When Brooks Barta started preparation for his week three matchup against Sabetha, he knew it would be a dog fight. Holton came in to the game losing it’s first two outings on the year, and putting their 44 straight league win record on the line. Garrett Michael’s Blue Jays were coming off of a statement game against ACCHS to even their record. Both teams running similar offensive strategies; “three yards at a time, keep the chains moving. Eventually you’ll find the end zone.”  Friday night was one where three yards were hard to come by for both Big 7 teams.

Holton started the game off with the opening possession, turning the ball over on downs after a quick four plays. Sabetha then had their own slow start punting the ball back to the Wildcats after just three plays on offense. The game would continue to be a defensive battle until Sabetha capitalized on Holton’s only turnover in the game, a fumble by Justin Rieschick on his own 18 yard line.  That set up the perfect pitch and catch from Senior quarterback, Brandon Poe, to Senior running back Brock Frey, for an 18 yard touchdown to put the ‘Jays up 7-0 with 9:23 left in the first half.

Holton would respond at the 6:47 mark in the second quarter as Justin Rieschick made amends for his previous fumble, trotting 62 yards to tie the ball game up 7-7. Poe and his offense, with the home crowd behind him, took the next possession and drove 72 yards, capped by a Trae Snyder 30 yard touchdown run put the ‘Jays up 13-7 with 3:16 left in the first half. Garrett Michael sent out senior kicker Alec Kirwan to knock through the extra point, but the Bluejays mishandled the snap, which forced the try to convert a two-point scramble play. A Holton defensive pass interference call gave Michael’s crew another go at the conversion, which failed after a mis-handoff. Holton was left with just under 3:00 left in the 2nd quarter to travel 82 yards.
 

The Wildcats marched to the Blue Jay 43 yard line, when Brooks Barta called timeout with :25 seconds left in the half. The very next play Barta sent senior Justin Pool on a post pattern and Rieschick hit Pool in stride for a 43 yard touchdown with just :18 seconds left in the first half. Arturo Reveles kicked the ever so important extra point to but Holton up by one at halftime.
 

In the second half it was the defense that stepped up big yet again for both teams, forcing turnovers and stalling drives on every possession. Holton forced three second half turnovers on the Blue Jays, all on Holton’s side of the field, and held on to the 14-13 lead to give them their first win of the year.
 

Holton did outgain their third straight foe to open the season with 380 total yards to the Bluejays 294.  Rieschick led the way with 134 yards on 17 carries while Will Wright and Mason Barta also registered more than 65 yards on the ground.  Trae Snyder led Sabetha with 103 yards rushing.
 

Holton takes their 1-2 record on the road to face Hiawatha this Friday night and Sabetha tries to bounce back with homecoming against Jeff West this Friday night.