Courtesy of the Iola Register Pictures by Paula Miller

October 01, 2007

 MVHS VS FLINTHILLS  Wildcat Express rolls

MORAN — Marmaton Valley High, which has made a habit of ending its games early this season, began district play in much the same fashion Friday.
The Wildcats scored 24 points in both the first and second quarters against visiting Flinthills High, surpassing the 46-point margin necessary to end a game at halftime, via Kansas’ eight-man mercy rules.
The 48-0 win keeps the Wildcats’ regular season mark spotless at 5-0. More importantly, Marmaton Valley stands at 1-0 in Eight Man Division 1, District 4 play.
“You always want to play your best this time of year, but we aren’t satisfied with where we are,” Wildcat head coach Dan Uhlrich said. “We’ve got to keep working at getting better.”
The Wildcats scored on the ground, through the air and on defense to secure the win against Flinthills.
Ben Biggs scored on a one-yard touchdown run, followed by a two-yard run by Justin Thompson.
Josh Deer scored the Wildcats’ defensive touchdown on a 30-yard interception return. Marmaton Valley led 24-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Chad Bruner connected twice with Gavin Cole for second-quarter scores, good for 65 and 30 yards to push the Wildcats’ lead to 40-0.
Biggs put the cap on the scoring with a three-yard touchdown run late in the second period.
“We had a second and goal at one point and we didn’t block anybody and they stopped us,” Uhlrich said. “And they blocked one of our kicks right before halftime.
“Take away those two plays,” he continued. “And I thought we played pretty darn well.”
Bruner connected on 5 of 6 passes for 120 yards. Three of the passes went to Cole for 102 yards. Thompson rushed 11 times for 56 yards and Biggs gained 21 yards on three carries.
On defense, Cole and Deer corralled interceptions, while Tom Stinnett and Andrew Nelson recovered fumbles.
Marmaton Valley plays at Chetopa next Friday for another district contest.
Marmaton Valley 24-24-x-x—48
Flinthills 0-0-x-x—0
MV — Biggs 1 yd run (Cole pass from Bruner)
MV — Thompson 2 yd run (Thompson run)
MV — Deer 30 yd interception return (Thompson run)
MV — Cole 65 yd pass from Bruner (Thompson run)
MV — Cole 30 yd pass from Bruner (Thompson run)
MV — Biggs 3 yd run (Maley run)