By TODD FERTIG
TopSports.news
Silver Lake is known as a team that throws the ball all over the yard, putting up points in flashy style. But when a game with immense playoff implications was on the line, the Eagle defense was the star. The Eagles turned back an Osage City drive to win 28-21 Friday at CJ Hamilton Field.
Freshman Kip Kruger passed for 200 yards and three touchdowns in Silver Lake's 28-21 district win over Osage City. [File photo/TSN]
Osage City took possession of the ball with 7:17 remining, trailing by one score. The Indians mounted an 11-play drive that chewed up nearly six minutes. With 1:20 remaining in the game, the Indians faced fourth and two at the Eagle seven-yard line.
Reed Silver, the Indians’ quarterback, had already carried eight times on the drive. He crashed over the right tackle on his ninth carry and was stopped cold by junior Myles Fisher and sophomore Dom Monhollon, effectively ending the contest.
“We figured they would try to run it outside because they got us on a few plays before,” said senior Grady Bergmann. “Our D-line made a great play, our linebackers made a great play, and our safety came up and tackled him. It was a great play all around.”
“People think we’re an offensive school, but to go out in the red zone and stop them…(Osage City is) a good team, they’re big. So proud of those kids,” said Silver Lake coach Logan Pegram “We got up 14 and it kind of got the momentum back on their side. To see our kids respond with the goal-line stop was something that, as a coach that’s focused on offense, it was awesome to see.”
Bergmann was the star of the first half, hauling in two touchdown passes and intercepting a pass to squelch an Osage City drive.
“Last year, (Osage City) beat us down there, and with them coming up here, we felt like we had to make a statement against an undefeated team, and we did that tonight on Senior Night,” Bergmann said.
Bergmann’s two first half-touchdowns were matched by the Indians, sending the teams to halftime tied, 14-14. Silver Lake grabbed the lead early in the third period on a long pass from Kip Kruger to Owen Rottinghaus. The Eagles then went up 28-14 late in the third period on a 31-yard dash by Monhollon.
Osage City quickly took back the momentum, however. A long catch-and-run by the Indians cut the lead to 28-21 early in the fourth period. Silver Lake was unable to respond, leaving plenty of time for Osage City to finish the comeback. Only the heroic stop on fourth down saved the Eagles.
Monhollon provided 152 yards rushing on just eight carries. Rottinghaus exploded for long receptions of 78 and 42. Bergmann and Dayne Johnson produced 58 and 52 yards receiving from quarterback Kruger, who completed 18 of 22 throws for 200 yards.
Silver, one of the Indians’ leading receivers this season, was forced to step into the quarterback position in place of injured starter Kasen Parsons. Silver passed for 183 yards and rushed for 84 yards. The Indians put the ball in his hands when the game was on the line.
“We looked him up and saw (Silver) was going to have to play (quarterback) and I was very impressed,” Pegram said. “He’s a heck of an athlete. He’s a junior so we’ll get to play him again next year in district.”
For this year, Silver Lake is now in command of Class 2A District 3.
“It gives us the driver’s seat without knowing what happened around the state,” Pegram said. “We don’t measure success by district championships, but it’s always nice when you’re the one seed and you get to hopefully keep playing at home.”
The Eagles have now won five games in a row after starting the season 0-2. They travel to Council Grove – the team that ended their season a year ago – next Friday for the regular-season finale.
“I think we’re dangerous,” Bergmann said. “We’re not done yet. We’ve got a lot of stuff to clean up and have a good week of practice. We’ve got Council Grove next week and everybody knows we want a piece of them.”
SILVER LAKE 28, OSAGE CITY 21
Osage City (6-1) 7 7 0 7 -- 21
Silver Lake (5-2) 7 7 14 0 -- 28
Osage City – Theel 40 run (Speece kick)
Silver Lake – Bergmann 25 pass from Kruger (VanVactor kick)
Osage City – Theel 73 pass from Silver (Speece kick)
Silver Lake – Bergmann 7 pass from Kruger (VanVactor kick)
Silver Lake – Rottinghaus 42 pass from Kruger (VanVactor kick)
Silver Lake – Monhollon 31 run (VanVactor kick)
Osage City – Smith 64 pass from Silver (Speece kick)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing – Osage City: Theel 14-119, Silver 20-84, Speece 1-5, Stark 1-4. Silver Lake: Burgos 9-27, B. Johnson 1-2, Monhollon 8-152, Kruger 2-2.
Passing – Osage City: Silver 7-14-1 183 yards. Silver Lake: Kruger 18-22-1 200 yards.
Receiving – Osage City: Stark 1-1, Curley 108, Theel 3-83, Smith 2-91. Silver Lake: Bergmann 5-58, Ross 3-13, D. Johnson 6-54, Burgos 2-(minus)3, Rottinghaus 2-78.
Punting – Osage City: Silver 3-29.2. Silver Lake: Hogle 1-43.0, Kruger 1-20.0.
