The Reno County Homeschool Sabres upset the defending Eight-Man I champion South Central Timberwolves 30-28 Friday night in Coldwater.
The Sabres, who lost their season opener 74-44 last Friday against five-time state champion Axtell, improved to 1-1 and dropped South Central to 1-1.
Reno County senior quarterback Bo Smith completed 11-of-17 passes for 101 yards, rushed 37 times for 154 yards and three touchdowns, intercepted a pass on defense and made the tackle for loss on South Central’s potential game-tying two-point conversion in the closing moments.
Rock Smith rushed for 52 yards on 5 carries. Colt Smith caught 5 passes for 56 yards and Beckim Niedenthal caught 3 passes for 28 yards.
Junior Dayne King also came up with a huge interception in the end zone with about 10 minutes left in the game stopped a South Central drive inside the 10-yard line and set up Reno County’s go-ahead score.
The Sabres responded with a long, time-consuming drive that ended in a TD run by Bo Smith with 1:47 on the clock. Colt Smith caught a pass from Bo Smith for the 2-point conversion to make the score 30-22.
The Timberwolves responded quickly with a 40-yard TD strike from Easton Huck to Jett Petty, putting them down by 2 points at 30-28.
On the 2-point attempt to tie the game, an offsides call went against the Sabres, which placed the ball on the 1 1/2-yard line. South Central ran a QB dive, attempting to tie the game.
Huck was met in the backfield by Bo Smith, dropping him for a loss and sealing the victory for Reno County. The Sabres were able to kneel out the remaining time on the clock.
“It was a tight game the whole way,” said Reno County Sabres’ coach Lee Smith. “South Central is an excellent, excellent team. We had to play well to compete with them. Our boys really stepped up and did that. Our theme for the night was playing with all our heart, soul, strength and mind and I think we did that.
“Defensively, I thought defensive ends Cooper Rinkel and Arlen Fall stepped up huge. We placed a lot of responsibility on their shoulders and they responded with great games.”
“On our game winning drive, Beckim Neidenthal had a huge reception on third-and-ong, converting it into a first down right there to keep the drive going. He played a great game, all around.
“Our offensive line, Amos Lilyhorn, Andre King and Josiah Fall handled a really big and strong defensive front for South Central. They had to battle all night. That is probably where the game was one. Those guys are faithful men. Excited to see all their hard work pay off and for them to play so well.”
The “road warrior” Sabres, who do not have a home field, will play at Hugoton next Friday. Hugoton has lost its first two games to Texas teams: Perryton 22-20 on Sept. 4 and Stratford 20-8 on Friday.
The schedule doesn’t get much easier. The Sabres still have 1A power Rossville and 4A power Andale among the challenges ahead.
South Central is scheduled to play at Sublette next Friday, but Sublette had to forfeit a road game to Dighton because there was an outbreak of impetigo, a highly contagious bacterial skin infection.
