Sabetha 40, Centralia 14

For the first time in five years, the Sabetha football team got a win to begin their season.  In a dominating first half, the Jays scored touchdowns on six of their first seven possessions and took a 33-0 lead.  Their only other drive ended at the Centralia one-yard-line as Collin Holthaus ripped the ball away from Bluejay quarterback, Christian Meyer.  Sabetha seniors, Trae Snyder and Blake Plattner each ran for a trio of touchdowns as Sabetha outgained Centralia 265 to 35 yards of offense in the first half and held the Panthers without a first down on their opening five possessions of the season.  

Centralia however, put a drive together cut the lead to 33-6 just 15 second before halftime as Trenton Flentie found Kamble Haverkamp for a 25 yard touchdown pass.  The Panthers carried that momentum into the second half and ran 21 more plays than Sabetha in the final two quarters while controlling the football.  Sabetha got 76 of their 115 second half yards on their first play of the third quarter as Snyder sprinted for his third score of the night and surpassed 200 yards rushing.  The Panthers finished the scoring at the end of the third period with a three-yard touchdown run by Nathan Rempe.  Centralia also drove and turned the ball over on downs inside the red zone twice in the second half.  The offense was sparked by the passing game which had Flentie complete 7 of 19 passes for 137 yards.  Haverkamp, a freshman, hauled in four spectatular catches for 104 yards receiving, but Centralia totaled just 66 yards on the ground and struggled to match the physical play and experience of a much bigger Sabetha team in the trenches.

The Bluejay defense had three interceptions as Brendon and Cauy Rokey each picked off a pass and Seth Harrell added a pick with less than three minutes to go in the contest.  Cole Oehm had a fantastic night making tackles and Payton Strahm was the Denison State Bank "Lineman of the Game" for the Bluejays for his great play on both sides of the football.  Snyder, the Citizens State Bank and Trust Company "Player of the Game," finished with 13 carries for 214 yards and Plattner had 90 yards on just 7 carries.  Zach Edelman added 57 yards rushing for the Jays who got all 380 yards on offense on the ground.  Sabetha will host Holton in their Big 7 League opener next week.

Centralia, who was playing without a couple key returning seniors because of injury, did not committ a single penalty on the night and will host St. Mary's in week two before they begin Twin Valley League action.