By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
OREGON, MO - South Holt scored touchdowns on each of their first three drives in the first quarter and added three more second half scores in a 40-14 win over Mound City on homecoming in Oregon Friday night.
The win puts South Holt (4-3) above .500 for the first time all season, as the Knights score their third straight win and beat the Panthers for a third consecutive season.
"Any time we can get a win and keep the season going like it's been going the last three weeks, I'll take it," South Holt head coach Josh Petersen said after.
Mound City (1-6) managed just one first down on their first three drives in the first quarter, and each of the Panthers' first three possessions ended in turnover on downs.
This opened the door for South Holt early. The Knights scored in just six plays on their opening series. Sophomore quarterback Cole Medsker found junior Cade Kurtz on a 22-yard touchdown throw to give the Knights an 8-0 lead with 7:12 left in the first.
South Holt struck again less than five minutes later, as Medsker capped a five-play scoring drive with a two-yard touchdown run and the Knights led 16-0 with 2:27 left in the first.
After the third straight turnover on downs by Mound City, South Holt took over at the Panthers' 37-yard line and scored just three plays later. This time, senior running back Jayce Jackson scored on a one-yard touchdown run, and South Holt led 22-0 at the end of the first.
Both teams were held scoreless in the second quarter, and Mound City had to kickoff to start the second half. The Panthers kicked an onside, which they recovered.
Despite starting the first series of the second half at the South Holt 37, Mound City yet again turned the ball over on downs. The Panthers were stopped six times on fourth down Friday.
It took South Holt just four plays to score on their first drive of the second half. Medsker took a shot to the end zone and found junior Kendall Noland for a 19-yard touchdown, putting the Knights up 28-0 with 8:13 left in the third.
Mound City at last had an answer on their ensuing drive. Sparked by a 44-yard rush from senior Quinton Brandon, junior Cole Gillenwater tossed a seven-yard touchdown pass to Eli Caton, making the score 28-6 with 6:37 left in the third.
South Holt was forced to punt on its following drive, and Jackson placed a punt perfectly inside the five, which was downed at the Mound City one-yard line.
The Panthers lost a fumble just three plays later, which the Knights recovered at the Mound City six. Two plays after that, Medsker tossed a short pass to Kale Kerns for a touchdown, putting the Knights up 34-6 with 2:08 left in the third.
Medsker completed 13-of-14 passes for 156 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for a score Friday.
Mound City hit back on the first play of the ensuing drive, as sophomore Kane Derr took off on a 36-yard touchdown run. The Panthers had great field position after a solid kick return by junior Brad Sutton.
Derr led Mound City with 16 carries, 109 yards and the touchdown. Brandon rushed for 79 yards on 10 carries for the Panthers as well.
Mound City made it a 34-14 game with 1:51 left in the third, but never got closer. South Holt added one more score, a four-yard touchdown run from Jackson, with 11:25 to play to make it 40-14.
Jackson, who was crowned homecoming king Friday at halftime along with queen Megan Markt, led South Holt with 121 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 28 carries.
"Jayce had a great game," Medsker said. "He's our guy. If we need a play, we go to him. Yeah, we'll keep it rolling from here. Line did great tonight. Just got to trust everyone and keep rolling."
South Holt looks to continue its late season momentum next week when they play at Rock Port (4-3). Mound City, who's now lost three in a row, will try and snap that streak at DeKalb (1-6) next week as well.
"We're hopefully going to just keep this rolling and get to 6-3 on the season, take our chances in districts and go from there," Petersen said. "All in all, with what we're doing and moving people around, we're finding people in space. Offensively, we have weapons and hopefully the defense can play like they have been."
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