Among the many Dove Creek players who stepped up big were seniors Austin Beanland, Hayden Gray and Blaine Johnson, who doled out powerful hits that held Sedgwick County\u2019s offense in check for much of the opening quarter.<\/p>\n
The Cougars did eventually break through when Tate Goddard raced into the end zone from 10 yards out, and the five-time defending state champions built a 16-0 lead later in the opening quarter when Jared Ehmke tossed a 22-yard touchdown pass to Cameron Hackbart with 4:55 left.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe started off good,\u201d Beanland said. \u201cWe were playing good, and I just felt like it kind of dropped off. I don\u2019t know if we got tired or what, but we just kind of fell.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although overcoming their early two-touchdown deficit presented a tall mountain to climb, the Bulldogs nearly made things interesting when junior quarterback Chorbin Cressler rolled out of the pocket and tossed a 34-yard touchdown pass to Hankins only to see the score called back because of a penalty.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was the perfect play,\u201d Hankins said. \u201cI was there for the ball. I didn\u2019t see what happened, I guess (Cressler) stepped over the (line of scrimmage before he threw the ball).\u201d<\/p>\n
Trailing 16-0 as the second quarter got underway, Dove Creek surrendered a 43-yard touchdown run to Brody Parker before delivering a memorable highlight of their own when Cressler scored on a 63-yard quarterback draw to make the score 24-6 with 2:51 left in the opening half.<\/p>\n
According to several fans in attendance, Cressler\u2019s scoring run represented the first touchdown given up by Sedgwick County\u2019s varsity defense this season and one of a few touchdowns given up by the team\u2019s top defensive unit in recent years.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the huddle, we talked about (if their defense) was crashing, I would just shoot my gap and go,\u201d Cressler said of the big play. \u201cI took off running, and I felt myself get pulled on, but they didn\u2019t have my legs, so I ended up breaking away for the score.\u201d<\/p>\n While Cressler\u2019s score provided the Bulldogs with a glimmer of hope, the Cougars quickly extinguished it in the final two minutes of the half with a touchdown run and a 65-yard punt return. Heading into halftime, the score was 40-6.<\/p>\n \u201cThe first quarter, I thought we were playing right with them,\u201d Baughman said. \u201cWe just had a couple of mistakes, and it spiraled from there in the second quarter. Against a five-time defending state-champion team, you can\u2019t make mistakes like that because they will just capitalize.\u201d<\/p>\n As Sedgwick County players celebrated and fans in attendance cheered both teams, several Bulldogs players, including brothers Austin and Tyson Beanland exchanged hugs and shed tears together for the final time.<\/p>\n \u201cIt meant everything to our town as a whole,\u201d Austin Beanland said of his team\u2019s epic run. \u201cWe pursued our dreams, and we believed in ourselves. I\u2019m going to remember the bond that we had with each other. We never wanted to give up and quit.\u201d<\/p>\n