By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Shawnee Heights junior running back Allen Baughman went into Friday night's United Kansas Conference game against Topeka West knowing that he needed just 13 yards to reach the 1,000-yard rushing mark on the season.
Shawnee Heights junior running back Allen Baughman went over the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the season in Friday's 49-6 UKC win over Topeka West. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Shawnee Heights junior Allen Baughman (5) is congratulated by teammates after one of his five touchdowns in Friday's 49-6 win over Topeka West. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Baughman took care of that milestone when he gained 22 yards on his first carry of the night and he went on to 128 yards and five touchdowns on just 10 attempts as Shawnee Heights (4-3 overall, 4-2 UKC) snapped a two-game losing streak with a 49-6 romp past the Chargers at Hummer Sports Park.
"I didn't think I would come out this season do what I've done but I really just powered through the adversity of coming straight to varsity from JV and not really seeing the field (last year),'' Baughman said. "I am doing good, my whole line's doing good and we're doing good things.''
Baughman said it was important for the T-Birds to get back on track Friday after back-to-back losses to undefeated De Soto and Wamego.
"It was real important,'' Baughman said. "We knew we had to come out here and handle business. They have some good players and we knew if we won this game we'd have momentum going to Homecoming week and we needed that.''
Topeka West (1-6, 1-6) put together one of its best drives of the night on its opening possession, reaching the Shawnee Heights 12-yard-line before senior Jayden Berry recovered a Charger fumble.
"I thought Topeka West did a great job of coming out and giving us their best shot and they moved the ball, but credit our defense for bending and not breaking and making a great strip of the ball,'' Shawnee Heights coach Jason Swift said. "The offense did a nice job of answering and that was big. The offense needed to come back and show that they could run the ball and set the tone for the night and they did on that first series.''
Baughman gained 58 yards on four carries on Heights' first possession, capping the drive with a 4-yard touchdown run with 6:16 left in the first quarter.
Baughman made it 13-0 with a 26-yard TD with 2:15 left in the first and added his third TD of the opening stanza with a 17-yard scamper and followed with a 2-point conversion to put the T-Birds in command 21-0 with 3.9 seconds left in the period.
The Birds doubled their advantage in the second quarter to build a 42-0 halftime advantage, getting a 55-yard fumble return from junior Tucker Busenitz, an 11-yard run from junior Jacob Malcom and a 13-yard run from Baughman.
Malcom's 85-yard kickoff return for an apparent TD to open the second half was wiped out by a penalty but the T-Birds added their final score on a 1-yard plunge from Baughman with 7:20 left in the third quarter to take a 49-0 lead.
Topeka West senior quarterback Malachi Berg rushed for 96 yards, passed for 112 yards and scored the Chargers' lone touchdown in a 49-6 loss to Shawnee Heights. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Topeka West senior quarterback Malachi Berg got the Chargers on the scoreboard on a 16-yard run with 18 seconds left in the third.
Berg rushed for 96 yards on 17 carries, passed for 112 yards and also caught a 37-yard pass from Trenton Bullard on the final play of the game.
Topeka West will close out its regular season next Friday at Washburn Rural while Shawnee Heights will host Leavenworth.
SHAWNEE HEIGHTS 49, TOPEKA WEST 6
Shawnee Heights (4-3, 4-2) 21 21 7 0 -- 49
Topeka West (1-6, 1-6) 0 0 6 0 -- 6
Shawnee Heights -- Baughman 4 run (Christian kick)
Shawnee Heights -- Baughman 26 run (pass failed)
Shawnee Heights -- Baughman 17 run (Baughman run)
Shawnee Heights -- T. Busenitz 55 fumble return (Christian kick)
Shawnee Heights -- Malcom 11 run (Christian kick)
Shawnee Heights -- Baughman 13 run (Christian kick)
Shawnee Heights -- Baughman 1 run (Christian kick)
Topeka West -- Berg 16 run (run failed)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing -- Shawnee Heights: Baughman 10-128, Malcom 5-48, Holly 4-40, T. Busenitz 4-33, Freeland 1-8, Dover 1-4, Team 1-(minus)-4. Topeka West: Berg 17-96, Alexander 7-23.
Passing -- Shawnee Heights: P. Busenitz 2-3-0, 46 yards; Freeland 1-4-0, 12; Team 0-3-0, 0. Topeka West: Berg 14-28-0, 112; Bullard 3-4-0, 48.
Receiving -- Shawnee Heights: Armbruster 2-37, Baughman 1-21. Topeka West: K. Jones 6-50, Hulse 2-37, Engel 3-9, Berg 1-37, Banks 1-6, Coffman 1-7, Janosic-Patch 1-4, Alexander 2-(minus)-3.
Punting -- Shawnee Heights: Malcom 2-46.0. Topeka West: Alexander 1-17.0.
