FARMINGTON DEFEATS WINNEBAGO
Stephen Shank Sports Correspondent
Sparked by a pass interception returned for a touchdown and a safety, both in the first quarter, the Farmington Farmers rolled to a 48-6 first-round playoff win over the Winnebago Indians Saturday afternoon. Now 10-0, Farmington hosts Wilmington in the second round.
"It was anybody's game until the interception," said Vallas. "Up to that point, it was a very quiet crowd."
The Indians had taken the opening possession down field with quarterback Bryce Bryden completing two passes. Running back Kenzell Jones added to his team's offense with an 18-yard carry.
However, Bryden went to the well once to often as Cade Lansford picked off his pass near the right hashmark, returning the ball 83 yards for the touchdown. Nick Johnson booted the PAT for a 7-0 lead at the 8:49 mark.
Two possessions later, Winnebago's Peyton McCray intercepted a Hayden Bradt pass giving his team the ball at their own 11-yard line. Farmington fans though didn't need to worry as a host of Farmers tackled Bryden in the end zone when he failed to escape the pass rush. The two points increased the hosts lead to 9-0 with 3:58 still left in the opening quarter.
After taking the ball on the ensuing free kick at the Winnebago 44-yard line, the eventual winners need just three plays to score. A 13-yard pass from Bradt to Jacob Uryasz set up a 33-yard TD run from Dash Anderson. Johnson's extra point made it a 16-0 game.
Farmington's fun carried over into the second quarter after getting the ball back with just under a minute left on the clock in the first quarter. Anderson and Bradt gained positive yards on the ground and on the second play in the second quarter, Anderson raced into the end zone on a 25-yard run. The 2-point conversion pass was short of the goal line, leaving the Farmers ahead 22-0.
Farmington's defense continued to hold the Indians in check, giving the ball back to their defense. Once gain, it took Vallas' team just two plays to score, finding the end zone on a 28-yard run from Bradt. A wide kick to the left on the PAT, left the Farmers leading 28-0 with 6:02 left in the first half.
The Farmers tacked on one more touchdown before the first half ended. After taking the ball over on downs, Farmington went 60 yards for this touchdown which was scored by Anderson on an 18-yard run. The kick gave the Farmers a 35-0 lead at the intermission.
With the continuous clock now a possibility, the Farmers made it a reality on their first possession in the third quarter. They needed just six plays to go 62 yards, the final 17 of them coming on a Bradt TD run. Johnson's kick increased his team's lead to 42-0 with 9:41 left in the quarter.
With the clock now running, both teams scored one touchdown apiece as the game played out. Winnebago's score came on a 2-yard run from Garrett Buckner with 42.2 seconds left in the third quarter.
Farmington countered with a 1-yard run from Lansford with 8:03 left in the game. In the scoring drive, Lansford accounted for 56 of the Farmers' yards.
"Our O-line and D-Line did an outstanding job the entire game," said Vallas. "And the blockers did a great job on Cade's touchdown return."
Unofficially, Bradt rushed for 127 yards on 12 carries. Anderson added 102 yards on nine attempts. Urzyaz caught three passes for 32 yards.