Fourth-quarter spark not enough as Eagles fall 21-8 at Hugoton

Colby High School found the end zone with a determined fourth-quarter response Friday night, but an early deficit proved too much to overcome in a 21-8 loss at Hugoton.

The Eagles trailed 21-0 at halftime after Hugoton turned short fields and two long pass plays into points. Colby’s defense steadied after the break, holding the home team scoreless over the final two quarters, and the offense finally broke through on Neale Morrison’s 30-yard touchdown pass to Gage Krohn with 7:33 remaining.

Morrison then connected with Nathan Cates for the two-point conversion, cutting the margin to 13. Hugoton recovered Colby’s ensuing onside kick and protected the lead down the stretch.

The loss dropped Colby to 1-3, while Hugoton earned its first victory after opening the season with three losses.

Colby received the opening kickoff and began at its own 20. The Eagles faced fourth-and-1 at the 29 and elected to keep the offense on the field. Morrison rolled under pressure while looking to throw and was pulled down at the 18, giving Hugoton a short field.

Hugoton needed only two plays to capitalize. A 17-yard quarterback run put the ball near the goal line, and a 1-yard touchdown plunge gave the home team a 6-0 lead with 10:02 left in the first quarter. The extra-point kick sailed wide.

Colby showed flashes on its next possession. Julian Salcido gained 12 yards on a sweep, and the Eagles continued to move the ball before a penalty set the team back.

The opening quarter soon turned into a scramble for possession. Colby lost a fumble, then got the ball back moments later when junior Conner Surmeier recovered a Hugoton fumble. The Eagles’ next opportunity ended on another fumble on the final play of the period.

The defense created another turnover early in the second quarter. Senior Sean Wederski intercepted a pass and returned it into Hugoton territory, but pressure on Morrison forced Colby to punt without converting the opportunity into points.

Hugoton stretched the lead on the following drive. A 40-yard completion moved the ball inside the Colby 15, and they later converted fourth-and-4 with a 7-yard touchdown pass. A successful two-point run made it 14-0 with 5:13 left in the half.

Colby’s next series ended after a low snap forced Morrison to cover the ball for a loss. Hugoton took over near midfield following the punt and again struck through the air.

A 24-yard run moved Hugoton into scoring range before a 25-yard touchdown pass with 1:57 remaining. The extra point increased the lead to 21-0.

Freshman Lakeen Fellhoelter saw time at center as Colby worked through lineup changes. The Eagles attempted to answer before halftime, but three incompletions brought on another punt.

The third quarter belonged to the defenses. Colby did not allow Hugoton to add to the lead, producing stops against the run and forcing a punt after the hosts crossed midfield.

Krohn repeatedly helped set the tone for the defense. He made tackles in space on the edge and combined with teammates to limit several Hugoton runs. Kage Daniels, Ethan Reinert, Wederski and Salcido also figured in stops as the Eagles kept the second half within reach.

Colby’s offense remained pinned deep for much of the third period, but the defense continued to hold. A chop-block penalty pushed Hugoton backward late in the quarter, and the Eagles stopped the next outside run to send the game to the fourth with the score still 21-0.

A Hugoton punt was downed near the Colby 2 early in the final period. From there, the Eagles put together their best offensive sequence of the night.

Morrison found Reinert for a 17-yard completion, and an additional penalty moved the ball to the 36. A screen pass to Salcido gained 15 yards, and Krohn followed with an 11-yard run into Hugoton territory.

A holding penalty moved Colby back to midfield, but Morrison responded by escaping pressure and scrambling 19 yards to set up third-and-1. The drive stalled when Krohn slipped on a fourth-down carry near the Hugoton 30 and finished just short of the marker.

The defense immediately returned the ball to the offense. Senior McCager Wright recovered a Hugoton fumble at the 30, giving Colby another chance with 7:50 to play.

After an incompletion and a timeout, Morrison stepped up and delivered a pass to Krohn. The senior running back broke multiple tackles inside the 10 and finished the 30-yard touchdown reception with 7:33 remaining.

Morrison’s two-point pass to Cates made it 21-8 and rewarded a Colby team that continued to compete after the difficult first half.

The Eagles tried an onside kick, but Hugoton secured the ball near its 37. The hosts moved the chains on the ground and drained the remaining time to complete the 21-8 victory.

Colby finished the night with three takeaways. Surmeier and Wright recovered fumbles, and Wederski added the interception. Offensively, the late drive featured contributions from Reinert, Salcido, Krohn and Morrison before Krohn scored Colby’s first touchdown in two games.

The Eagles return home Friday, Oct. 2, to face Holcomb. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Scoring by quarter

Scoring summary

First quarter

Hugoton - 10:02: 1-yard touchdown run. Extra point unsuccessful. Hugoton 6, Colby 0.

Second quarter

Hugoton - 5:13: 7-yard touchdown pass. Two-point conversion successful. Hugoton 14, Colby 0.

Hugoton - 1:57: 25-yard touchdown pass. Extra point good. Hugoton 21, Colby 0.

Third quarter

No scoring.

Fourth quarter

Colby - 7:33: Neale Morrison 30-yard touchdown pass to Gage Krohn. Morrison pass to Nathan Cates for the two-point conversion. Hugoton 21, Colby 8.

Final: Hugoton 21, Colby 8.