BY BUDDY TABLER
Special to the Tribune
LARNED -- Southwestern Heights (2-4, 1-2 District) outscored Larned 29-6 after trailing 14-0 for a hard-fought 29-20 football victory over Larned in 2A, District 8. Mustang quarterback Omar Mercado rushed for two touchdowns and completed two touchdown passes to Xzavier DeLaTorre.
Larned (0-6, 0-2) led 14-0 on touchdowns by Koby Lang on a 5-yard pass from quarterback Mason Miller and Luke Krehbiel's interception return for a touchdown.
Southwestern Heights (2-4, 1-2 District) found its passing game to run off 29 straight points.
Playing without several starters, Larned took command early, stifling the Mustang’s running game and forcing two punts.
Larned’s Lang caught a long pass from Miller to set up a 5-yard scoring pass for a 6-0 lead. Krehbiel stepped in front of an Omar Mercado pass and returned it 36 yards for a touchdown. Calvin Keith added a 2-point conversion for a shocking 14-0 lead.
Mercado's passing and running seized the game by scoring 29 straight points, targeting DeLaTorre for a scoring pass. When Mercado ran in a touchdown with 8:40 remaining in the second quarter, SW Heights had tied the game, 14-14.
With 6:12 remaining before halftime DeLaTorre scored for the Mustangs on a 21-yard scamper into the end zone and a 22-14 lead.
Larned, looking to regain the momentum after halftime failed to cover a Mustang kickoff at their own 19-yard line and on the next play Mercado broke through for a 19-yard touchdown run and a 29-14 Mustang lead with 11:37 remaining in the third quarter, completing a run of 29 consecutive points.
Larned, behind a strong running attack, took the kickoff and moved quickly down the field behind the running of freshman E.J. Condry. Condry had runs of 12, 4, 18 and 8 yards in the drive. David Colglazier capped it off with a 2-yard touchdown run. Larned missed a 2-point pass. It was a key play in the ball game as it left the Indians still trailing by two scores, rather than a 22-29 deficit.
The Mustangs reverted to a running game in the second half and did not complete a pass.
Larned’s defense forced two punts, but could not convert.
In the final minute, Larned connected on a 34-yard pass to Grady Pinkston to get to the 6-yard line. Larned scored a touchdown on fourth down, but was called for holding. A final pass fell incomplete for a 29-20 final.
Mercado completed 9 of 15 pass attempts for 116 yards and the Mustangs rushed for 122 yards. Larned’s Mason Miller completed 7 of 14 passes for 89 yards and the Indians rushed for 133 yards.
Larned travels to Hoisington (5-0, 2-0 District) for a 2A, District 8 game.
Larned 6 8 6 0— 20
SW Heights 0 22 7 0 — 29
L—Koby Lang 5 pass from Mason Miller; L—Luke Krehbiel 36 interception return (Calvin Keith run); SW—Xzavier DeLaTorre TD pass from Omar Mercado; SW—Mercado TD run; SW—DeLaTorre 21 pass from Mercado; SW—Mercado 19 run; SW—David Colglazier 2 run
