CHANUTE, KS – Host Chanute built an early lead and held on to defeat Mulvane, 28-21 Friday night in the season opener for both teams.
After losing so many seniors last year, Mulvane set out to start the season on the right foot, but six turnovers ended up costing the Wildcats.
“This loss is just a building point of the season,” said Mulvane senior Isaiah Evans. “We can take this to learn and come out next week better than before. There were too many mental mistakes last night, and we just weren’t playing with any energy. We need to come together as a team, pick ourselves up, and win the next game.”
Trailing 28-7 after a touchdown pass from junior quarterback Christian Wiltse to junior Trey Ellis, Mulvane began its comeback late in the third quarter on a pair of scoring runs by Michael Mason.
Mason brought the Wildcats to within 28-14 on a nine-yard touchdown run late in the third score and then stunned the home crowd with a 91-yard touchdown. Trevor Wayman converted his third PAT of the night to bring Mulvane within 28-21.
However, turnovers ended up being Mulvane’s undoing, as Chanute junior Austin Troxell came up with two interceptions to help preserve the victory.
Chanute answered a first-quarter touchdown by Mason with 21 unanswered points to take a 21-7 halftime lead. Wiltse launched a 74-yard touchdown pass to freshman Kenton Richards to tie the game at 7-7 in the second quarter.
Junior Dakota Gough gave the Comets their first lead with an 11-yard touchdown run to make it 14-7. Later in the second quarter, Wiltse found Ellis for the second of his three touchdown passes to give Chanute a 21-7 lead at the break.
“At halftime in the locker room, we talked about how to fix our mistakes and how we have to be more effective on the field,” said Mulvane’s junior Brent Martin, No. 50.
Chanute plays at Labette County High School next Friday, while Mulvane visits Augusta High School.
Notes:
- During the game, Mulvane fans were upset by many delays from Chanute players going down and staying down apparently because of cramps that needed to be stretched out on the field. There were mandatory hydrations called by the officials.
- Both kickers were perfect on PAT attempts as Chanute’s A.J. LaRocca was 4-for-4 and Mulvane’s Trevor Wayman was 3-for-3.
