By TODD FERTIG
TopSports.news
Having been blown out in the first meeting with Hayden, Jefferson West gave the Wildcats a fight in the Class 3A quarterfinal matchup Friday at Hayden. The Tigers closed to within seven points in the fourth period before ultimately falling, 43-29.
Hayden hoists the trophy after Friday's 43-29 Class 3A quarterfinal playoff win over Jefferson West Friday at Hayden. [Photo by Todd Fertig/TSN]
Hayden senior quarterback Connor Hanika celebrates a touchdown in Friday's 43-29 Class 3A quarterfinal win over Jefferson West. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The Wildcats blasted Jefferson West 42-0 in the final week of the regular season. But the Tigers followed that loss with two playoff victories to set up a rematch. The Tigers were more physical and more efficient in the second meeting, a spirited contest marred by numerous personal fouls and some bickering both during and after the game.
Leading by just seven points with 9:39 left, the Wildcats rose to the challenge, scoring twice in the final six minutes to hold Jefferson West at bay.
“That’s a good team right there,” Hayden junior Mason Becker said of the Tigers. “Last time we played them, we beat them by a little bit. But they fight hard all the way to the end. They have great coaching and great players.”
Hayden caught the Tigers with a quick strike to open the contest. On just the second play from scrimmage, Hayden quarterback Connor Hanika uncorked a bomb to Becker that resulted in a 71-yard score.
Hayden senior Jude Krentz ran for a pair of touchdowns in Friday's 42-29 Class 3A quarterfinal win over Jefferson West. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
At the close of the first period, Hanika beat the defense on a nine-yard race to the right pilon to give Hayden its second touchdown. Jude Krentz added the Wildcats’ third score early in the second period, and a rout similar to the one that occurred in late October appeared imminent.
But when Hayden turned the ball over on downs midway through the second period, life was breathed into the Tigers, who appeared on the ropes trailing 22-0.
Jefferson West freshman quarterback Brixton Schwinn, unable to get the passing game going in the first meeting, suddenly found his rhythm. A pass to Crayton Holman went for 41 yards, moving the visitors into Hayden territory for the first time on the night. Four plays later, Schwinn hit Holman for the Tigers’ first score in six periods played against Hayden this season.
The Tigers got another break when Hayden senior back Kade Mitchell came out of the locker room for the second half with his right knee tightly wrapped and packed with ice. The senior has accounted for over 1,400 yards from scrimmage and 21 touchdowns on the season, but he would make no more contributions in this suddenly competitive battle.
Shifting to running back on certain sets and producing a spark on the ground was Becker, who typically lines up on the perimeter.
“Kade went out and someone had to step up,” Becker said. “We all had to step up. I came in and was just going to give my all for the dude next to me.”
Senior Xander Blasing had a big night on both sides of the ball in Friday's 43-29 Hayden Class 3A playoff win over Jefferson West. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Quickly after the break, Hayden added another score on a 30-yard pass from Hanika to a leaping Xander Blasing. The 29-8 lead looked safe.
But Schwinn and the Tigers benefitted from a couple of Hayden penalties to get into the red zone again. The freshman quarterback connected with his junior brother, Brody Schwinn, combining for their 18th touchdown pass of the season.
Then early in the fourth period, the Tigers capitalized on a turnover deep in Hayden territory for another score, this time a short run by the younger Schwinn. Hayden’s lead was cut to 29-22 with 9:39 remaining.
“They throw the ball all over the place,” Hayden coach Bill Arnold said of Jefferson West. “They spread you out. They get a little bit of a mismatch here and there, but I thought our kids played well.”
Hayden responded with a drive that culminated with a 16-yard scoring run by Krentz. Next, Hayden’s Logan Power picked off a Schwinn pass to set up a 3-yard touchdown by Jackson McGivern and finally Hayden could rest easy. A late touchdown by Jefferson West only narrowed the final score to 43-29.
“I felt like we played pretty good,” Arnold said. “We had to make some adjustments when Kade didn’t come back out in the second half. I thought our kids played hard. We made some mistakes. (Jefferson West) made some good plays as well. But in the end, it’s survive and advance.”
Hayden will host yet another playoff game next Friday, this time against 11-0 Santa Fe Trail, which held off Holton 28-26.
Becker produced an impressively versatile stat line on the night. In addition to the 71-yard scoring reception, he added 78 yards rushing on nine carries. He booted each of his kickoffs out of the end zone, converted all five extra point kicks he attempted, and his two punts averaged 44.5 yards.
Jefferson West’s freshman quarterback Schwinn threw for 292 yards and also rushed for 61 yards. His brother, Brody, caught eight passes for 114 yards.
The Tigers completed their season with an 8-3 record, one of the best in the school’s recent history.
HAYDEN 43, JEFFERSON WEST 29
Jefferson West (8-3) 0 8 7 14 -- 29
Hayden (11-0) 15 7 7 14 -- 43
Hayden – Becker 71 pass from Hanika (Blasing pass from Hanika)
Hayden – Hanika 9 run (Becker kick)
Hayden – Krentz 1 run (Becker kick)
Jefferson West – Holman 9 pass from Bri. Schwinn (Bri. Schwinn run)
Hayden – Blasing 30 pass from Hanika (Becker kick)
Jefferson West – Bro. Schwinn 20 pass from Bri. Schwinn (Mayer kick)
Jefferson West –Bri. Schwinn 4 run (Mayer kick)
Hayden – Krentz 16 run (Becker kick)
Hayden – McGivern 3 run (Becker kick)
Jefferson West – Holman 11 pass from Bri. Schwinn (Mayer kick)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing – Jefferson West: Bri. Schwinn 11-61, Skahan 7-19, Mayer 3-9, Holman 1-(minus)8, Foster 1-0. Hayden: Hanika 2-17, Mitchell 4-40, Krentz 10-38, McGivern 12-63, Becker 9-78, Wolff 1-6.
Passing – Jefferson West: Bri. Schwinn 23-34-2 . Hayden: Hanika 10-15-0 200 yards.
Receiving – Jefferson West: Skahan 6-41, Bro. Schwinn 8-114, Holman 7-98, Mayer 1-13, Foster 1-26. Hayden: Becker 1-71, Blasing 4-56, Mitchell 2-53, Powers 1-7, Kidd 2-13.
Punting – Jefferson West: Mayer 3-30.3, Bri. Schwinn 1-36.0. Hayden: Becker 2-44.5.
