Russell Defeats Council Grove in Season Finale Shootout
The Russell High School football team closed out the 2020 season with a 46-40 win over the Council Grove Braves at Shaffer Field in Russell on Friday, October 30.
Council Grove (2-7) scored the first touchdown of the game with 8:59 to play in the opening quarter on a nine-yard run by quarterback Hadyn Bieling. The extra-point kick was no good. Russell (1-8) answered with a 10-yard touchdown run by wide receiver Wyatt Middleton with 7:16 to go in the first quarter. The two-point conversion attempt was no good and the game was tied 6-6 after one frame.
The Broncos took the lead with 11:01 to play in the second quarter when running back Jesse Whitmer rushed one-yard for a TD. The two-point conversion was good. At the 3:33 mark in the second period, Bieling connected with wide receiver Corbyn Miller for a 14-yard touchdown pass. The two-point conversion was successful. However, Russell's Whitmer capped off a 10-play, 62-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run with 35 seconds remaining in the first half. The extra-point kick was no good, but the Broncos led 20-14 at halftime.
The third quarter was crazy. Council Grove's Bieling again connected with Miller for a 56-yard TD pass at the 9:07 mark in the third period. The extra-point kick gave the Braves the lead. However, with 7:41 to play in the third, Russell quarterback Andrew Roth hooked up with wide receiver Braydon Gibson for a 77-yard touchdown pass. The two-point conversion was good. At the 5:53 mark, Roth passed to Gibson again for a 27-yard score. The two-point conversion was no good. With 3:27 to go in the third period, Bieling again found Miller for a 16-yard TD pass. The extra-point kick was good. On the ensuing kickoff, Russell's Whitmer ran the kick return back for a 66-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion was no good. The Broncos led 40-28 at that point. With 1:23 to play in the third stanza, Bieling passed to wide receiver Tom VanValkenburg for a nine-yard touchdown. The extra-point kick was missed. And with only 27 seconds remaining in the third quarter, Bieling from the safety position intercepted a pass and returned it for a 44-yard TD. The extra-point kick was no good and the game was tied 40-40 heading into the fourth quarter.
Russell chewed the clock away in the final frame and came up with a couple key turnovers. Whitmer scored the winning touchdown on a seven-yard run with 3:53 to play. The two-point conversion was no good, but it didn't matter in the end.
Russell outgained Council Grove 356 total yards to 333. The Broncos amassed 190 yards rushing and 166 yards passing, while the Braves totaled 97 yards on the ground and 236 yards through the air.
Whitmer rushed 18 times for 114 yards for Russell. Roth passed for all 166 yards on nine completions. Gibson caught five passes for 111 yards.
For Council Grove, Bieling rushed for 54 yards and passed for all 236 yards on 15 completions. Miller caught six passes for 127 yards.
The Broncos won the turnover battle. Russell forced six turnovers, four interceptions and two fumbles, and only threw two interceptions.
Penalties were a problem for both teams. Russell had 20 for 175 yards and Council Grove had 13 for 120 yards.
Russell finishes the season 1-8.
(Photo courtesy Kevin Steinle.)