By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Wichita East's football team moved the ball up and down the field against Washburn Rural Friday night, finishing with an unofficial total of 426 offensive yards, including 244 passing yards from senior quarterback Daeonte' Mitchell.
But the Junior Blue defense came up big play after big play to help turn the tide, including a late-game blocked extra point by senior JC Heim that proved to the difference in Washburn Rural's 26-25 season-opening win at Bowen-Glaze Stadium.
Washburn Rural senior JC Heim came up with a game-saving blocked extra point and also starred on offense and defense in Friday's 26-25 win over Wichita East. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
"I got it with my full hand,'' Heim said. "It was a lucky block though. Originally I started on the left side, but then I was like, I'm going to try something new.' So I came from the right and I took the right angle and it just happened that God gave me a block.It was awesome.''
Washburn Rural senior Jaren Heim (27) scores on a pick six in Friday's 26-25 win over Wichita East. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Senior Jaren Heim had a 24-yard pick six for the Junior Blues while JC Heim and junior Lafayette Thompson also picked off passes and Rural also recovered a fumble and took advantage of a botched punt snap as Rural held on for the win.
"We still have a lot to work on but I think what makes us special is we didn't give up and that was important this game,'' JC Heim said. "We all gang tackled and one big play didn't affect us and we went to the next play.
"I knew they were going to bring out speed. I knew their quarterback was a great player and I knew their defense was going to be tough and it was going to be a great game.''
Wichita East had an opportunity to force overtime after a 5-yard touchdown pass with 2:37 remaining, but the Blue Aces were tagged with a penalty as they lined up for the extra point attempt and then JC Heim broke through and blocked the extra point to protect the Junior Blues' one-point advantage.
"We got turnovers and it was the old bend but don't break thing and I told them, "That's nice, but let's not do that any more for that many times,' '' Washburn Rural coach Steve Buhler said. "But that was a very talented offense we were playing tonight.''
Sophomore TJ Minikwu ran for 86 yards in Washburn Rural's 26-25 win over Wichita East. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Sophomore TJ Minikwu and JC Heim then helped Washburn Rural run out the clock, combining for 30 rushing yards and a pair of first downs.
Wichita East set the stage for what would be a nail-biter from start to finish when senior running back Rayvelle Leak burst loose for a 37-yard touchdown run on the Aces' third play from scrimmage (Cohen Richardson kick) to take a 7-0 lead with 9:18 left in the opening quarter.
Washburn Rural pulled even at the 3:14 mark of the first quarter when seniors Branton DeWeese and Titan Osburn hooked up for a 17-yard touchdown pass (Wilson Miller kick).
Senior quarterback Branton DeWeese ran for two TDs and threw for a score in Friday's 26-25 win over Wichita East. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
DeWeese gave Rural its first lead of the night with a 10-yard TD run with 33 seconds left in the first period (kick failed), but Wichita East tied the game on a 14-yard Mitchell touchdown run at the 7:39 mark of the second quarter (kick failed).
Jaren Heim's interception return gave the Junior Blues a 19-13 advantage with 2:06 remaining in the first half (run failed) but Wichita East needed just 58 seconds to tie the game at the half on a 45-yard TD pass from Mitchell to Marcus White (pass failed).
DeWeese's 23-yard touchdown run and Miller's extra point put Washburn Rural ahead to stay with 8:22 left in the third quarter but the Blue Aces late touchown gave East a shot before JC Heim's block.
Washburn Rural faces another still test next Friday, hosting Class 5A power De Soto.
"DeSoto's ranked second in (Class) 5A and it will be a whole different type of offense, smash mouth, and it will be a real physical ballgame,'' Buhler said. "They had a chance to beat us last year and I think they've got a little edge coming over here next week and playing us so we're looking forward to another good one.
"Our schedule's a tough schedule early on, but we've got a great group to handle that kind of schedule.''
WASHBURN RURAL 26, WICHITA EAST 25
Wichita East (0-1) 7 12 0 6 -- 25
Washburn Rural (1-0) 13 6 7 0 -- 26
Wichita East -- Leak 37 run (Richardson kick)
Washburn Rural -- Osburn 17 pass from DeWeese (Miller kick)
Washburn Rural -- DeWeese 10 run (kick failed)
Wichita East -- Mitchell 14 run (kick failed)
Washburn Rural -- Jaren Heim 24 interception return (run failed)
Wichita East -- White 45 pass from Mitchell (pass failed)
Washburn Rural -- DeWeese 23 run (Miller kick)
Wichita East -- Shears 5 pass from Mitchell (kick blocked)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing -- Wichita East: Leak 16-99, Mitchell 14-86, Robinson 2-9, Blanton 1-minus-12. Washburn Rural: Minikwu 18-86, JC Heim 7-39, DeWeese 12-28, Team 2-minus-2.
Passing -- Wichita East: Mitchell 23-32-3, 244 yards. Washburn Rural: DeWeese 7-14-0, 67.
Receiving -- Wichita East: White 7-96, Robinson 6-41, White 5-66, NA 3-28, Leak 1-8, Shears 1-5. Washburn Rural: Hayes 3-29, Recinos 2-12, Osburn 1-17, Minikwu 1-9.
Punting -- Wichita East: Blanson 1-39.0; Washburn Rural: Creager 6-38.3.
