By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman football never led in Friday's non-league home game against Shawnee Mission East but Jared Swafford's Vikings also never quit battling in a 41-21 loss.
SM East, which improved to 2-0, jumped out to a 14-0 lead less than a minute into the second quarter, but 0-2 Seaman got as close as seven points twice and was still fighting late in the game, getting within 14 after trailing by 21 at the start of the fourth.
Sophomore running back Quentin Moravec rushed for 112 yards and a TD in Seaman's 41-21 loss to Shawnee Mission East. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"I'm really proud of our kids and I'm proud of our staff,'' Swafford said. "These guys are never going to give up. It doesn't matter what it says on the scoreboard and I truly believe that.
"I know our guys are going to give us everything they've got and we're showing a lot of improvement in a short amount of time. I know we're going to continue to do that and it's on myself and the staff to continue to work on that and demand those things out of them because I know our kids are going to come ready to work on Monday.''
East senior Jack Reeves, who split time between quarterback and tailback, rushed for 210 yards and three touchdowns on 29 carries and also passed for 100 yards and a TD to pace the Lancers.
Senior Vince Kopp, who split time at quarterback with Reeves, rushed for 64 yards and a pair of TDs on 13 attempts.
"Shawnee Mission East and what they do, they're just so disciplined and they challenge you the entire game and you've got to continue to answer the bell,'' Swafford said. "I thought our kids did that. A couple of plays here or there and it is what it is, but Shawnee Mission East is phenomenal.
"That's an outstanding challenge in Week 2 and I know we'll grow from it and we'll be better.''
Junior quarterback Cale Ketter threw for 160 yards and two TDs in Seaman's 41-21 loss to SM East Friday night. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Seaman, meanwhile, got 112 rushing yards and a 33-yard touchdown run on 21 carries from sophomore running back Quentin Moravec while junior quarterback Cale Ketter passed for 160 yards and two TDs.
Junior wide receiver Josh Brown caught three passes for 72 yards, including 14 and 19-yard touchdown catches.
The Vikings played without senior standout running back Kaden McKinney, who is out with an injury.
Seaman will return to United Kansas Conference play next Friday, facing 0-2 Topeka West at Hummer Sports Park.
SM EAST 41, SEAMAN 21
SM East (2-0) 7 14 14 6 -- 41
Seaman (0-2) 0 14 0 7 -- 21
SM East -- Reeves 1 run (Trucksees kick)
SM East -- Vanice 9 pass from Reeves (Trucksees kick)
Seaman -- Brown 14 pass from Ketter (Hayes kick)
SM East-- Reeves 1 run (Trucksees kick)
Seaman -- Brown 19 pass from Ketter (Hayes kick)
SM East -- Kopp 1 run (Trucksees kick)
SM East -- Reeves 4 run (Trucksees kick)
Seaman -- Moravec 33 run (Hayes kick)
SM East -- Kopp 1 run (kick failed)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing -- SM East: Reeves 29-210, Kopp 13-64, Ketteler 8-37, Youngers 5-13, Capstack 2-10, Sullivan 1-(minus)-1. Vanice 1-(minus)-2. Seaman: Moravec 21-112.
Passing -- SM East: Reeves 5-6-1, 100 yards; Kopp 1-3-0, 12. Seaman: Ketter 11-24-0, 160.
Receiving -- SM East: Wittmer 3-79, Ketteler 1-14, Ochs 1-10, Vanice 1-9. Seaman: Brown 3-72, Moravec 3-50, Evans 2-24, Kobuszewski 1-13, Barta 1-5, Becker 1-(minus)-4.
Punting -- SM East: Reeves 1-35.0. Seaman: Cheney 3-43.0.
