The Moundridge High School Wildcats gave defending Kansas State High School Activities Association Class 1A state champion Sterling a strong challenge early Sept. 4, but the Black Bears pulled away in the second quarter to hand Moundridge a 53-21 loss.
“We battled up front to match their physicality and ultimately lost that match-up,” Moundridge head coach Tyler O’Connor said.
Sterling struck first when junior Jacob Lewis opened the game with a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, but Moundridge responded and held a 7-6 lead after the opening quarter.
Sterling responded with 26 points in the second quarter to take a 32-21 advantage into halftime.
The Black Bears shut out the Wildcats in the second half, adding seven points in the third quarter and 14 more in the fourth to secure the victory.
The Wildcats finished with 250 yards of total offense, including 216 yards on the ground.
Junior running back Tione Wilson led the Moundridge attack with 214 yards on 21 carries, an average of more than 10 yards per attempt.
Wilson broke loose for a game-long 66-yard run and scored all three of Moundridge’s touchdowns.
Moundridge junior quarterback Alex Rose completed 1 of five passes for 34 yards, with the lone completion also going for 34 yards.
The Wildcats did not record a turnover.
Sterling’s offense proved difficult to contain, piling up 461 yards of total offense — all on the ground.
Senior Jace Darnauer led the Black Bears with 174 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 11 carries, while senior Deryn Maxwell added 170 yards and a touchdown on 25 attempts.
Junior Nolan Wellman contributed 86 yards and a touchdown on five carries.
The Black Bears also controlled the first-down battle, 18-9, and converted six of eight third-down opportunities.
Moundridge converted two of nine third downs.
Despite the final margin, the Wildcats’ 21 points and 250 yards of offense provided some bright spots against one of the state’s top programs.
“We battled hard, and many of our young players played meaningful minutes,” O’Connor said. “We plan on that showing up in their development and improvement as we move forward.”
Moundridge’s Wilson was named the player of the game.
Next, the Wildcats face the Sedgwick High School Cardinals at 7 p.m. Sept. 11 in Moundridge.
Sedgwick comes off a blow-out, 71-0 loss against Inman High School.
