Picture courtesy of Colton Southern

The Ell-Saline Cardinals were back in action Friday night as they traveled to Claflin to take on the Central Plains Oilers. Central Plains scored the first two touchdown before a late comeback by Ell Saline fell short as the Oilers escape with a 2 point win 24-22.

Central Plains got on the board first with a 7-yard touchdown run by senior running back Keeton Robison that put the Oilers up 8-0 with 5:21 left in the 1st quarter.

The Oilers found the endzone again in the 2nd quarter as this time sophomore running plunged in from 4 yards out and Central Plains took a 16-0 lead.

Ell-Saline was not going to be denied though as they looked to come racing back. The Cardinals found one answer with a 4 yard touchdown by senior running back Jaxsen Seed that closed the Central Plains lead. The Oilers took a 16-6 into the locker room but Ell-Saline got the ball to start the second half.

The Cardinals open the 2nd half with a 5 minute drive that was capped off by Seed’s second rushing touchdown of the night as he scampered in from the yard line. After a failed 2 point conversion it was just a 16-12 lead by Central Plains.

Central Plains looked to make it tough for Cardinals as they added another score with 1:53 left in the 3rd quarter as Robison found the endzone for the second time of the evening. The Oilers once again converted their two point conversion as they had all night and led 24-12.

Jaxsen Seed and the Cardinals wanted to make it interesting as they pulled within 4 again with 7:17 left to go in the game. Jaxsen Seed scored his third rushing touchdown of the night and the Cardinals seemed to swing momentum as they only trailed 24-20.

The Cardinals actually took the lead late in the 4th quarter before a holding call erased Seed’s fourth touchdown of the night. Ell-Saline turned the ball over on downs inside the Central Plains 5 yard line.

The Cardinals defense held tight and forced a punt from Central Plains. Instead of punting Central Plains coach JD Johnson decided to take a safety and give the Cardinals an opportunity on offense. Central Plains kicked to Ell-Saline with 1:30 left in the game and a 24-22 lead.

Unfortunately the comeback came up short as senior quarterback  Julian Roche’s pass was intercepted by Layton Hoffman which sealed the win for the Central Plains 24-22.

With the loss, Ell-Saline drops to 0-2 on the season and are back on the road next week as they take on the returning 8M-II State Champion in the Hanover Wildcats. Central Plains moves to 2-0 on the season and will be at home next Friday against Kinsley.

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