By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
It would be hard to say whether or not Homecoming week was a distraction for Shawnee Heights' football team Friday night.
But it was a fact that the T-Birds had trouble getting in synch and staying in synch in a 24-19 United Kansas Conference loss to Leavenworth at Wetter Field.
"That's the good and the bad of Homecoming,'' Shawnee Heights coach Jason Swift said. "You've got everybody here and it's a great night and a great atmosphere but you've just got to get that tunnel vision, Your job is go out there and go get a win and maybe that (the festivities of Homecoming) kind of made it so we weren't right-on perfect every time.''
Shawnee Heights junior Allen Baughman (5) rushed for 164 yards and two touchdowns in Friday's 24-19 UKC loss to Leavenworth. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Leavenworth senior quarterback Eddie McLaughlin rushed for 154 yards, passed for 176 yards and scored three TDs in the Pioneers' 24-19 UKC win over Shawnee Heights. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Shawnee Heights junior Jayden Moore hauls in a pass in Friday's 24-19 UKC loss to Leavenworth. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Leavenworth, now 3-5 overall and in the UKC, entered the game on a five-game losing streak, but the Pioneers drew first blood and then came from behind three times, scoring the game-winning touchdown on a 3-yard run from standout senior quarterback Eddie McLaughlin with 1:02 remaining.
McLaughlin was a thorn in the T-Birds' side all night long, running for 154 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries and completing 11 of 16 passes for 176 yards in the Leavenworth win.
"He's awfully good,'' Swift said of McLaughlin. "He's a phenomenal quarterback, a three-year starter and he's been doing this for three years.''
Leavenworth took a 6-0 lead on a 2-yard run from junior Xavier Strickland with 53 seconds left in the first quarter, but Shawnee Heights (4-4, 4-3) took a slim 7-6 advantage on a 6-yard TD run from junior Allen Baughman and an extra point from senior Carson Christian at the 5:22 mark of the second quarter.
It took the Pioneers just three plays to regain the upper hand, with McLaughlin scoring the first of his three straight Leavenworth touchdowns on a 47-yard run to put his team up 12-7 at the half.
An interception by Heights senior Jayden Berry thrwarted a Leavenworth scoring threat to open the second half and Baughman carried the ball seven times for 77 yards on the T-Birds' ensuing possession, setting up a 1-yard touchdown run from senior quarterback Nick Freeland with 4:07 left in the third that put Heights back in front 13-12.
Four plays later McLaughlin scored on a 51-yard run to put Leavenworth up 18-13 at the 2:01 mark of the third stanza.
A 7-yard Baughman TD gave Shawnee Heights its final lead of the night at 19-18 lead with just 2:30 to play, but McLaughlin struck one last time, picking up 32 yards on two carries to put Leavenworth in scoring position before scoring the game-winning TD with 1:02 left.
Heights had one last chance to pull out the win but after picking up a first down at its 42-yard-line, Freeland threw an incomplete pass and was sacked as time ran out.
Baughman finished the night with 164 rushing yards on 25 attempts, including 134 yards in the second half.
The T-Birds should find out their playoff opponent on Saturday and will begin Class 5A postseason next Friday.
LEAVENWORTH 24, SHAWNEE HEIGHTS 19
Leavenworth (3-5, 3-5) 6 6 6 6 -- 24
Shawnee Heights (4-4, 4-3) 0 7 6 6 -- 19
Leavenworth -- Strickland 2 run (pass failed)
Shawnee Heights -- Baughman 6 run (Christian kick)
Leavenworth -- McLaughlin 47 run (run failed)
Shawnee Heights -- Freeland 1 run (run failed
Leavenworth -- McLaughlin 51 run (run failed)
Shawnee Heights -- Baughman 7 run (run failed)
Leavenworth -- McLaughlin 3 run (run failed)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing -- Leavenworth: McLaughlin 22-154, Strickland 11-68, Finn 1-3. Shawnee Heights: Baughman 25-164, Freeland 5-40, P. Busenitz 4-18, Malcom 3-3, Holly 1-2.
Passing -- Leavenworth: McLaughlin 11-16-2, 176 yards. Shawnee Heights: P. Busenitz 4-5-0, 32 yards; Freeland 5-10-0, 26.
Receiving -- Leavenworth: Ramey 4-54, McCannn 2-67, Daniel 2-24, Finn 2-22, Strickland 1-9. Shawnee Heights: Holly 3-29, Moore 2-17, Armbruster 2-6, Malcom 1-7, Baughman 1-(minus)-1.
Punting -- Leavenworth: McLaughlin 2-47.5. Shawnee Heights: Malcom 4-40.0; P. Busenitz 1-18.0.
