[wpbvideo id=’306051′]
By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Eventually, the Waynesville Tigers will clear that first hurdle. And then many more.
They nearly did on Friday night, but came up a few agonizing inches short.
The Tigers had a potential touchdown slip through their hands in the final minutes of an eventual 25-22 road loss to Kickapoo.
The outcome extended Waynesville’s losing streak to 23 games. The Tigers’ last victory came against Camdenton in their 2015 district opener.
“At the end of the day, with our kids, we’re so close to jumping that big hurdle – which is really a minimal hurdle in the big picture,” Waynesville coach Joe Haynes said. “One win in a 10-game season is simply one win. Right now, our goal is to go 1-0 each week. So far, we’re 0-1 two weeks in a row. That’s how we keep it in perspective.”
Facing 4th and 4 from the Kickapoo 24 with 3:50 left, the Tigers called a throwback screen play for junior running back Shen Butler-Lawson.
Butler-Lawson couldn’t scoop up an underthrown pass before it hit the ground. The Tigers turned the ball over on downs and Kickapoo eventually ran out the clock.
“That Missouri wind just took (the pass) and made it die all of a sudden,” Haynes said.
The Chiefs scored the game’s deciding touchdown with 7:31 remaining. Cross Elmquist hit Alex Hutson for a 5-yard touchdown pass that gave the Chiefs the lead for good, 25-22.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
“Austin (Hutson) ran a great route one-on-one off the back side of a zone (read). Cross made a great throw,” said Chiefs coach Nate Thomas.
Waynesville drove 41 yards in 10 plays on its ensuing drive. While the Tigers came up short in their bid for a game-winning score, Haynes said the players should be proud of their effort.
“That game could’ve went left or right. Our kids never quit. There’s been a stigma in the past that they’re quitters,” he said. “You tell somebody something long enough, then they believe it. They’ve been told since I got here in March: “You’re not a quitter. You’re actually great. There’s more in you than people have seen.’
“Eventually, we’re going to get over that to where it matches on the scoreboard.”
Chiefs running back Michael Maugans caught four passes for 74 yards and rushed for an additional 50 yards.
Evan Brage added two rushing touchdowns for Kickapoo (1-1 overall).
There were three lead changes in the second half. Waynesville got a 2-yard touchdown pass from Michael Lewis to Desmond Dawkins on the final play of the third quarter to take a 22-19 lead.
VIDEO: Honorary captains thrilled to share Kickapoo’s opening ceremony – CLICK HERE
“With the ups and downs – we had some mental mistakes for sure – but we had some kids make some big plays in big moments on both sides of the ball,” Thomas said. “We have a few kids who are going both ways and play in the kicking game. We just grinded out a win tonight.”
Butler-Lawson had 20 carries for 150 yards and a touchdown.
The Tigers utilized a two-quarterback system for a large part of the game between senior Aaron Emperato and the sophomore Lewis.
“The sophomore and the senior are even and neither one of them will just separate and consistently stay above,” Haynes said. “Either one raises up and the other goes down, or they play even par. Tonight, we said we’re going to go with it every other series. Then, well, (Lewis) got hot and we stuck with him.”
Deron Anderson had a dazzling 30-yard touchdown catch on the game’s opening drive. He broke multiple tackles on a screen pass from Emperato to take it the distance.
Leading 14-13 at halftime, Waynesville began the second half by fumbling inside its own 5 yard-line. Kickapoo cashed in two plays later with a short touchdown run from Brage.
Penalties also hurt Waynesville. The Tigers were flagged, unofficially, nine times for 83 yards.
Kickapoo will take its .500 record to Parkview next week for a clash with the Vikings.
“It’s night and day, no doubt,” Thomas said of the difference between 1-1 and 0-2. “It feels great to be 1-1 and now we’ll set our sights on Parkview. This is the team we’ve got. We’re going to have to grind out victories like this on Friday nights.”
Waynesville travels to Lebanon the same night.
Kickapoo 25, Waynesville 22
Waynesville 7 7 8 0 — 22
Kickapoo 0 13 6 6 — 25
First quarter
Waynesville – Anderson 30 catch from Emperato (Choi kick)
Second quarter
Kickapoo – Brage 1 run (Cybulski kick)
Waynesville – Butler-Lawson 55 run (Choi kick)
Kickapoo – Maugans 1 run (kick failed)
Third quarter
Kickapoo – Brage 2 run (run failed)
Waynesville – Dawkins 2 catch from Lewis (Butler-Lawson run)
Fourth quarter
Kickapoo – Hutson 5 catch from Elmquist (kick failed)
Unofficial stat leaders
Kickapoo
Passing: Elmquist 11-for-19 for 139 yards and 1 TD
Rushing: Maugans 23 carries for 50 yards and 1 TD; Chandler Taylor 4 carries for 38 yards; Brage 8 carries for 22 yards and 2 TDs[k1] ; Elmquist 6 carries for 25 yards
Receiving: Maugans 4 catches for 74 yards; Tyson 2 catches for 19 yards
Waynesville
Passing: Emperato 8-for-13 for 72 yards and 1 TD; Lewis 9-for-17 for 116 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT
Rushing: Butler-Lawson 20 carries for 155 yards and 1 TD
Receiving: Bledsoe 3 catches for 52 yards; Cavalier 3 catches for 50 yards; Anderson 2 catches for 27 yards and 1 TD; Andrews 3 catches for 22 yards; Dawkins 2 catches for 12 yards and 1 TD
