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Sabetha was not only much better than Osage City on Friday night in the 3A Sectional Playoff game, they were good enough to overcome five turnovers, including fumbling a punt-return and having a punt blocked on offense in the first quarter before a blowout 56-13 win. The Bluejays ran for 604 yards and completed one 26-yard pass for a touchdown just before halftime to take a 28-7 lead. The Sabetha defense had five takeaways including four interceptions and three of those were by senior Wyatt Beyer, as the Jays improved to 11-1 on the season and booked a date at Silver Lake (12-0) next week in Sub State.

Osage City moved the ball on their first drive before Beyer picked of a pass in the endzone and Sabetha went 83 yards on their opening drive before Beyer scored on a one-yard run. The Jays then forced a three-and-out, but couldn’t get away from the punt return as a ricocheted off Beyer and was recovered by the Indians at the 17-yard-line. Three players later, Osage City scored on a controversial play as Colton Prunty made a reception at the one-yard line and fumbled it into the endzone where the Indians recovered for a touchdown to tie the game at seven. The Bluejays had to punt on their next drive and it was blocked after a timeout, but Osage City gained no yards on four plays after taking over at the Sabetha 30-yard-line.

It was all Sabetha after that, even though they fumbled in the second and third quarter and threw a pick in the endzone before fumbling again late. Gabe Garber scored rushing touchdowns from six and one yard out in the second quarter and had a defensive INT before Brandon Browlee hit Joe Gruber on a beautiful 26-yard play action TD pass just 52 seconds before intermission. Beyer had two more defensive interceptions in the third quarter to set up short scoring drives as Joel Hackey ran a 15-yard TD and Mason Engelken broke free on a 31-yard score. Engelken added a 12 yard touchdown in the fourth quarter and Hackney returned to pay-dirt on a 47-yard sprint to finish the scoring as a trio of Bluejays ran for more than 100 yards.

Gruber had 171 yards on 21 carries and the touchdown catch as well as multiple defensive stops to earn “Player to Bank On” honors from the Citizens State Bank and Trust Company Hiawatha. Hackney finished with 133 yards on 15 carries all in the second half while Engelken ran for 116 and Beyer added 86 yards rushing. Sabetha had 29 first downs and reach 56 points scored for the fifth game this season. If they wouldn’t have broke the state rushing attempt record a week ago with 88 team carries against Perry Lecompton, they would have broke it Friday with 81 more rushing attempts. Braedon Cox was 8-8 kicking PAT’s and the line was incredible all night led by seniors Kyle Grimm and Tanner Ukele as well as senior tight ends: Cole Oehm, Isaac Sunderland, Riley Herrman and Blake Frey.  The Bluejays have a trio of juniors starting on the offensive line, including Elliott Strahm, who again dominated both sides of the trenches to earn "Lineman of the Game" honors from the Denison State Banks.  

Sabetha’s defense allowed only 218 total yards and keep 4,000 yard quarterback Tucker Kimball frustrated and in check all night. Kimball finished with 64 of Osage City’s 81 total rush yards, but 47 came on a play in the fourth quarter to set up a 14 yard TD run by Trenton Plinsky. The Indians passing attack really struggled in the wind and cold as Kimball was 14 of 41 passing for 137 yards before the Osage City season ended with a 9-3 record.

Sabetha advances to play at Silver Lake on Friday in 3A Sub-State as the Eagles won a second straight undefeated matchup after knocking out (only common opponent) Nemaha Central 25-7, and this week defeating Galena 13-6. Sabetha won the last meeting at Silver Lake a couple years ago by a 34-28 final and the last time the Bluejays advanced to Sub-State football was also against Silver Lake in 2006.