Talk about difficult conditions to play in. From the beginning until the end, the rain was falling in Paxton as they hosted Medicine Valley. Valuing the football is already a difficult task, but it becomes much more tricky when it is wet. Both teams had turnovers, but in the end, Paxton was able to take down Medicine Valley 51-20.
In the opening period, Paxton started strong on their first possession. After a couple of plays, Joe Eakins found the corner and ran it in from 37 yards away. The Tigers led 6-0 early on.
Just a couple of minutes later, the Tigers scored another touchdown, and it was Eakins again this time from 44 yards away. The extra point was good and it was 14-0.
With 5:48 remaining in the quarter, we went to a lightning delay. It wasn't too long of a wait and we resumed action.
The next score was from Wyatt Walker on a 23-yard run. The Tigers led 20-0 at that point. Medicine Valley answered nicely a little later in the quarter. Mason Roblee took a punt 44 yards for a touchdown to cut into the deficit late in the quarter.
We went to second with the score reading 20-6 in favor of Paxton.
Early in the second quarter, Wyatt Walker found Noah Coppersmith on a 44-yard touchdown pass. The extra point failed again and it was 26-6. For the next couple of possessions, both teams' defenses were tough holding the opponents to minimal yardage.
Near the halfway point in the second quarter, Medicine Valley found success on offense in a big way. Between some nice passes from Mason Roblee to Kahner Kotschwar, and runs by Lucas Einspahr, the Raiders began on their own 26, and on the eighth play of the drive, Roblee found Kotschwar on an eight-yard pass. It was 26-12 at that point.
Late in the half, the Tigers put together a nice drive as they had some big runs from Eakins, a nice pass and a reception from Walker to Maddex McConnell for 29 yards, the Tigers had a chance to score with one second on the clock. Paxton was on the Medicine Valley seven-yard line and Walker found Eakins on a nice pass to score at the half.
We went to the intermission with the score at 32-12 in favor of the Tigers.
In the third quarter, we saw both teams struggle to hold onto the football as the rain became heavier it seemed. Each team fumbled and both squads struggled to keep their footing on the wet turf.
Medicine Valley though, cut into the deficit again as they punched it in from 20 yards away on an excellent pass from Roblee to Ethan Brown. The two-point kick was good and it was 32-20. Moving the ball was not an issue for Medicine Valley, they would just find themselves behind the sticks and in some tough spots.
Paxton kept their offensive firepower rolling and rounded out their scoring efforts in the third quarter: A 34-yard touchdown run from McConnell, a fumble recovery in the endzone by Tyler Markussen, and a touchdown pass from Tanner Hebblethwaite to Ethan Hardin.
At the end of three, it was 51-20 and in the fourth, the Tigers milked the clock and secured the win.
Unofficial Stats for Medicine Valley
Medicine Valley had 48 yards rushing and 96 yards passing as a team. They had two interceptions thrown too. Lucas Einspahr had 34 yards rushing and Payton Newcomb-Snyder had 21 yards. Mason Robee had 96 yards passing and two throwing scores. He also returned a punt for a touchdown. Ethan Brown caught six balls for 52 yards and a touchdown. Kahner Kotschwar had three catches for 31 yards and a touchdown.
Unofficial Stats for Paxton
Paxton had 232 yards rushing and 119 yards passing. The Tigers had two fumbles lost. Joe Eakins had 149 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Maddex McConnell had 52 yards and a touchdown. Wyatt Walker had 31 yards and a touchdown. Walker was 4-6 passing with 91 yards and a score. Tanner Hebblethwaite was 3-3 with 28 yards and a touchdown. Receiving, Noah Coppersmith caught a pass for 44 yards and a touchdown, McConnell had a catch for 29 yards, Ethan Hardin had two catches for 25 yards and a score, Hebblethwaite had a catch for 11 yards, and Eakins had a catch for seven yards and a touchdown. Hebblethwaite had two interceptions as well.
Medicine Valley is now 0-7 and will host Wauneta-Palisade on Friday at 7:00 P.M. CT.
Paxton is 4-3 and will play Southwest on the road at 6:00 P.M. CT on Thursday.
We caught up with Joe Eakins after the game. Postgame interviews are brought to you by Acme Printing Company.
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