By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After giving up 58 points in a season-opening loss, Washburn Rural's defense redeemed itself in a big way Friday night, leading the Junior Blues to a 21-7 non-league win over Olathe South at Bowen-Glaze Stadium.
Washburn Rural gangs up on Olathe South in the end zone, resulting in a defensive touchdown in Friday's 21-7 Rural win. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Senior Amir Jones set up Rural's first touchdown when he picked off a pass and returned it to the 2-yard-line, setting up senior Jadyn Baum's short TD plunge, and the Junior Blues also scored a defensive touchdown when senior Tyler Tangye recovered a fumble in the end zone.
"I was super proud of the defense,'' Rural coach Steve Buhler said. "After coming off last week's performance our kids knuckled down and went to work this week and it showed.''
Olathe South drew first blood at the 7:18 mark of the second quarter when Falcon junior quarterback Colton Lake hit junior Jaxson Tuley for a 64-yard touchdown (Brodee Rollins kick).
After missing a 47-yard field goal attempt with a minute left in the half, Jones picked off a Lake pass and returned it to the South 2-yard-line, setting up Baum's touchdown on the next play (Ryan Austin kick) to knot the game at halftime, 7-7.
"I've been watching a lot of film, so I knew that play was coming,'' Jones said. "I jumped my gap and I got the pick I wanted.''
The 1-1 Junior Blues took the lead to stay in the third quarter when a great play from sophomore Ian Gonzales on a punt pinned Olathe South at the 2-yard-line, leading to a bad snap and a Falcon fumble that Tangye pounced on for the TD. Austin tacked on the extra point to give Rural a 14-7 advantage.
"We had a blitz call and all of us were going,'' Tangye said. "My D-linemen did a great job. They pushed the linemen back and made the center have a really bad snap and then the ball came out of the quarterback's hand and was on the ground and I picked it up and it's touchdown. First ever touchdown, it felt good.''
Washburn Rural tacked on an insurance score when Baum rambled 32 yards for a touchdown to put the Junior Blues up by the final 21-7 margin with 7:18 remaining (Austin kick).
Olathe South, which fell to 0-2, threatened to score late in the game after a couple of Rural penalties, but the game ended with the Falcons at the Junior Blues' 1-yard-line.
Washburn Rural senior Jadyn Baum rushed for 124 yards and scored two TDs in Friday's 21-7 win over Olathe South. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Baum finished with 124 yards and two TDs on 22 attempts to pace Rural's offense.
Olathe South's Lake passed for 226 yards and Tuley had nine catches for 180 yards but the Falcons managed just 29 rushing yards.
Washburn Rural overcame a rash of penalties, finishing with 135 yards in penalty yards on the night.
"On the offensive side we just lose focus and that's kind of what we did last week, so on the offensive side we're going to have to keep being more disciplined, get lined up right and do the things we need to do and we need to practice a little bit more at it and taking care of that in practice,'' Buhler said. "Defensively we were just being super aggressive at the end. But at the same time, after last week's game I was just glad to see our defense being physical and playing football.''
Jones agreed.
"I feel like we've definitely got work to do, but that was a beautiful bounce back from last week,'' he said. "I feel like we showed up enough to prove ourselves.''
The Junior Blues will be back at home next Friday night, hosting Wichita Bishop Carroll in a non-league contest.
WASHBURN RURAL 21, OLATHE SOUTH 7
Olathe South (0-2) 0 7 0 0 -- 7
Washburn Rural (1-1) 0 7 7 7 -- 21
Olathe South -- Jaxson Tuley 64 pass from Colton Lake (Brodee Rollins kick)
Washburn Rural -- Jadyn Baum 2 run (Ryan Austin kick)
Washburn Rural -- Tyler Tangye recovered fumble in end zone (Ryan Austin kick)
Washburn Rural -- Jadyn Baum 32 run (Ryan Austin kick)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing -- Olathe South: Zane Reddin 5-34, Omar Hasian 5-13, Justus Sprague 8-2, Colton Lake 9-(minus)-20. Washburn Rural: Jadyn Baum 22-124, Gavin Vantuyl 12-53, Riley Lone 4-8.
Passing -- Olathe South: Colton Lake 15-31-1, 226 yards. Washburn Rural: Gavin Vantuyl 9-17-0, 57.
Receiving -- Olathe South: Jaxson Tuley 9-180, Landon Anderson 3-34, Zane Reddin 2-11, Omar Hasian 1-1. Washburn Rural: Isaiah Whiteside 3-12, Jadyn Baum 2-22, Max Bervert 2-7, Riley Lone 1-13, Wyatt Bossert 1-3.
Punting -- Olathe South: Jaxson Tuley 6-31.2. Washburn Rural: Gavin Vantuyl 6-34.8.
