By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Washburn Rural special teams were really special Friday night at Bowen-Glaze Stadium, powering the Junior Blues to a 35-6 Homecoming win over Centennial League and city rival Topeka High.
The Junior Blues, who improved to 4-1 overall and 1-0 in the league, were in front 14-0 before the Rural offense ever touched the ball as senior Elijah Gaines got the Junior Blues on the board when he returned a blocked punt 33 yards for a touchdown at the 6:09 mark of the opening quarter and then added a second TD with 45 seconds left in the quarter when he scooped up a blocked field goal attempt and rambled 74 yards to the end zone.
Washburn Rural blocked a first-quarter Topeka High field goal, resulting in an Elijah Gaines touchdown. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Washburn Rural senior Elijah Gaines returns a blocked field goal for a touchdown in Rural's 35-7 win over Topeka High. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
"We watched a lot of film on them and we felt like the line up front was a little soft, so we just wanted to rush through there and try to get blocks as soon as possible,'' said Gaines, who now has three defensive/special team TDs in his career.
"I feel like we take pride in all three levels -- offense, defense and special teams -- and we just want to be the best in eveything we do.''
The Junior Blue special teams struck again on the ensuing kickoff after Gaines' second TD when Rural recovered an onsides kick at the Trojan 48-yard-line.
Finally getting a chance to get on the field, the Junior Blues' offense drove the remaining 48 yards in eight plays, with a 20-yard pass play from senior quarterback John Hoytal to senior Nate Selm setting up a 13-yard touchdown run by junior Jadyn Baum that put Rural in command 21-0 with 9:50 left in the first half.
"The special teams were huge for the defense and for us,'' Hoytal said. "We didn't get the ball until 32 seconds left (in the first quarter) and we're up 14-0, so it was kind of a relief.
"It also kind of threw off our momentum, but I'm super happy, super glad for the guys.''
It took Topeka High (3-2, 1-1) just two plays to find the end zone on its ensuing possession, with Trojan senior quarterback Zane Smith hooking up with junior Courtney Sanders for a 76-yard TD strike with 8:41 left in the half (kick blocked).
Washburn Rural added to its 21-6 lead late in the half when Hoytal broke loose for a 53-yard QB keeper and hit junior Peyton Glaze for a 32-yard pass play to set up a 4-yard Baum touchdown that put Rural up 28-6 with with 38 seconds left before halftime.
The Junior Blues and Trojans continued to move the ball in the second half, but the scoring pace slowed drastically, with Baum's third TD of the night on a 6-yard run with four seconds remaining in the third quarter the only score of the half.
Senior John Hoytal (10) rushed for 144 yards and passed for 131 yards in Washburn Rural's 35-7 win over Topeka High. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Junior Jadyn Baum rushed for 101 yards and three TDs in Washburn Rural's 35-7 win over Topeka High. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Hoytal finished the night with 144 rushing yards on just eight attempts while Baum added 101 yards on17 carries.
Hoytal also passed for 131 yards on a 12 of 17 night.
"It was a little bit of a weird night,'' Hoytal said. "I had over 100 yards rushing and Jadyn had three rushing TDs, but he wasn't our leading rusher.
"It was alright. We weren't super attentive to detail. We have a lot of stuff to work on.''
Topeka High senior quarterback Zane Smith passed for 284 yards and ran for 85 yards in the Trojans' 35-7 loss to Washburn Rural. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Topeka High junior Courtney Sanders caught five passes for 192 yards and a TD in the Trojans' 35-7 loss to Washburn Rural. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Smith and Sanders had big nights for Topeka High, with Smith completing 12 of 26 passes for 284 yards while Sanders grabbed five passes for 192 yards. Smith also rushed for 85 yards on 17 attempts.
"I was really impressed with Topeka High,'' Rural coach Steve Buhler said. "They played their fannies off and coach (Jason Filbeck) has got them playing hard and they were competing probably better and more than we did for a lot of the game.
"So hats off to those guys, they did a nice job. But on the flipside, our guys hung in there. It's good to see the special teams come through for us. They've been playing better this year.''
Topeka High will host Junction City next Friday at Hummer Sports Park while Washburn Rural will go on the road to face Emporia at Welch Stadium.
WASHBURN RURAL 28, TOPEKA HIGH 6
Topeka High (3-2, 1-1) 0 6 0 0 -- 6
Washburn Rural (4-1, 1-0) 14 14 6 0 -- 35
Washburn Rural -- Gaines 33 blocked punt return (Austin kick)
Washburn Rural -- Gaines 74 blocked field goal return (Austin kick)
Washburn Rural -- Baum 1 run (Austin kick)
Topeka High -- Sanders 76 pass from Smith (kick blocked)
Washburn Rural -- Baum 4 run (Austin kick)
Washburn Rural -- Baum 6 run (Austin kick)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing -- Topeka High: Smith 17-85, Dowd 14-30, Murph 1-13, Erby 1-11, Williamson 1-(minus)-2, Strayhorn 1-(minnus)-2. Washburn Rural: Hoytal 8-144, Baum 17-101, Lone 4-6, Wright 1-(minus)-4.
Passing -- Topeka High: Smith 12-26-1, 284 yards. Washburn Rural: Hoytal 12-17-1, 131; Taylor 1-2-0, 5.
Receiving -- Topeka High: Sanders 5-192, Murph 2-40, Erby 2-19, Filbeck 1-13, Aldridge 1-12, Dowd 1-8. Washburn Rural: Selm 3-28, Baum 3-21, Vantuyl 3-19, Glaze 2-46, Schumacher 1-7, Carter 1-5.
Punting -- Topeka High: Smith 2-40.0. Washburn Rural: Vantuyl 1-42, Taylor 1-32.0.
