We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
Senior Quarterback Tyson Shambo has been a solid passer and runner for the Thunderbird offense the entire season.
Senior Frank RunsAbove has been a threat catching and running the ball and caused defenses to breakdown over the course of a game.
Junior running back Chance Main has been a force for the Thunderbirds imposing his will on would be tacklers.
The Hays Lodgepole Thunderbird football team fell to 1-6 on the season after a tough 50-40 loss to the Power-Dutton-Brady Titans this past Saturday at Sullivan field in Hays.
The Thunderbirds record hardly resembles their ability to compete with anyone on the football field. With the exception of the contest against the Belt Huskies a few weeks ago and maybe the Cascade Badgers,the Thunderbirds have had a chance to win in the fourth quarter of every game.
Saturday against the Titans, the Thunderbirds started strong as junior Chance Maine and senior Tyson Shambo had the running game going early. Both converted first downs early in the possession before Maine completed on a nine-play 63 yard drive by finding the endzone on a 19-yard Scamper with 7:47 remaining in the opening quarter to give the Thunderbirds a early 6-0 lead.
The Titans however responded quickly with a touchdown just seconds later to tie the contest at 6-6.
P-D-B would stretch the lead to 30-6 before the Thunderbirds had a response. Shambo would get the Thunderbirds offense rolling late in the second quarter with a 32-yard pass completion for a touchdown to senior Tough Snow to cut the deficit to 36-12.
As the first half clock wound down, Shambo connected with senior wide out Frank RunsAbove for a first down and then found RunsAbove again for a seven yard gain that also drew a face mask penalty against the Titans.
Shambo and RunsAbove would connect on the 18-yard scoring pass with 1:18 remaining in the opening half, sending the teams to the locker room with the Titans on top of the Thunderbirds 36-18.
Power-Dutton-Brady scored quickly to start the third quarter to extend the lead to 44-18, but again the Thunderbirds combination of Shambo to RunsAbove began to heat up as the two connected on a 20-yard pass to start the possession. Shambo then dropped back to pass, evading defenders before scrambling through the Titan defense finding paydirt from 28 yards from 28 yards out. Main added the conversion attempt to bring the score to 44-26.
Hays/Lodge Pole seized the momentum shortly thereafter with junior Cleo Cole picking up seven yards for a first down, leading to a Main 10 yard touchdown run, bringing the Thunderbirds within two scores, 44-32.
The Hays/Lodge Pole defense rose to the occasion several times during the fourth quarter but it was the offense that struggled with turnovers that thwarted the Thunderbird come back.
Shambo would give the Thunderbirds hope late in the fourth quarter as he would connect with Main on a 25-yard scoring strike while also adding the conversion run to bring his team within 10 at the 3:27 mark of the fourth quarter 50-40.
Unfortunately for the Thunderbirds the eight turnovers were too much to overcome in the ballgame, falling again in a contest they were very competitive 50-40 to the Power-Dutton-Brady Titans.
Shambo finished the game with 220 yards through the air and four scores while Maine racked up 130 yards rushing in the contest.
Hays/Lodge Pole will travel to Simms this Friday to take on the Tigers before closing out the season October 19 at home against the Chinook Sugarbeeters.
