Holton 20, Baldwin 14

Two huge momentum plays in the final seconds before halftime Thursday night gave Holton the slight edge they needed and the Wildcats held on for a 20-14 win at Baldwin to open the Class 4AD2 playoffs.  Leading 6-0, Holton got the ball with :50 remaining in the half and after three quick plays, Miles McClintock-Stozier ran in a 23 yard score to make it 14-0 following a Spencer Baum two-point-conversion.  Then, with 18 second left in the half, Baldwin muffed the ensuing squib kick and Holton pounced on it.  The Wildcats then ran a option screen pass as McClintock-Stozier took the pitch and threw a bullet 37 yards downfield to Baum for a touchdown and Holton had a 20-0 advantage at the intermission. 

The Wildcat defense played one of the best games of the season and only allowed 173 yards of Baldwin offense in the contest.  Luke Laskowski scored as Baldwin took advantage of a high punt snap to get a short field in the third quarter and Laskowski broke a 55 yard run with 7:12 remaining to pull the Bulldogs within 20-14.  Yet, after successfully converting a trio of fourth downs earlier in the game, Holton gave the ball back to Baldwin at their 33 with 2:33 remaining.  The Wildcat defense held on four final plays, including a sack by Tel Witmer to seal the win. 

Baldwin was up to the task defensively as well as they held Holton scoreless and to just 89 yards of offense in the second half and forced the Cats to punt four times.  Holton still finished with 320 total yards of offense as Baum ran for 95 on 22 carries and Tyler Price added 21 totes for 78 yards at fullback.  McClintock-Stozier, however, was the "Player to Bank On" with 51 yards rushing and a touchdown, a reception for 23 yards and a 37 yard TD pass to Baum just two seconds before halftime.  Mason Strader was also very effecient at quarterback, adding 34 yards on 6 carries, and protecting the football as Holton won the turnover battle 3-0 and was able to overcome 10 penalties for 77 yards.  Witmer had a big game on both sides of the football to earn Denison State Bank "Lineman of the Game" honors as the Wildcats improved to 6-4. 

Baldwin ended their season 3-7 with Laskowski running for 93 yards and both scores in the second half.  Baldwin went three-and-out on their final three drives of the first half and totaled just 51 yards as Parker Zeller intecepted a pass on their first possession at the 41-yard-line.  The Buldogs played offensively without their 756 yards senior-leading runningback, Justin Howard. 

Holton advances in their 19th straight playoff campaign and will host #1 ranked and the only unbeaten team left in Class 4AD2 as Frontenac comes to Holton on Friday.