Wheatland-Grinnell makes it three straight after rivalry win

Everett

GRAINFIELD, Kansas (Catch it Kansas) – Wheatland-Grinnell enjoyed the best season in school history last fall with an 8-3 grade. The Thunderhawks gave back most of their skill positions with senior running back Isaac Mendez and the Vincent brothers: senior quarterback Trey and junior wide receiver Jett. Key seniors Tyrell Chapin and Ryan Heier were also back. WG opened the year in fifth place in Eight-Man, Division II and traveled to Axtell, which started fourth.

However, the preseason was problematic for the Thunderhawks as the key players were limited. Also, WG didn’t have a jamboree after Victoria canceled after a school tragedy. For the second season in a row, the Thunderhawks Axtell suffered a major loss, this time by 46 points.

“Depressing,” said coach Jesse Vincent. “I was very disappointed with our performance. I think a big part of this show was that we had five to seven starters who were only tolerated, muscle strains and trifles. We didn’t have a full training team for the university in the three weeks of the preseason, and that killed us. “

Wheatland-Grinnell defeated Quinter 58-26 at Grainfield on Friday, September 24, 2021. (Everett Royer, KSportsImages.com)
(Everett J. Royer)

Since then, WG has improved in several areas, scooping three consecutive quality wins, including a 58-26 homecoming win against Gove County’s rivals Quinter on Friday. The Thunderhawks took their third straight win in the series and scored the most points of all time against the Bulldogs. WG, leading 20-16 at halftime, had large games from multiple players and took control of Eight-Man, Division II, District 8.

“We’re still not where we can be,” said Jett. “Correct those little details and we can win a state championship.”

Quinter is 3-1 despite senior quarterback Jaden Boone sustaining a recent injury and playing the game with a cast on his left forearm. He was expected to only play in defense but took a few snaps at the quarterback.

“We didn’t know until today that Boone would be out,” said Chapin. “We have prepared ourselves optimally for Quinter so that we can do our best.”

Boone struggled to arrange snapshots with the cast. Boone was beaten up in the second half. Junior Preston Havlas finished 15 of 29 for 145 yards, and the second Trace Kinderknecht rushed for a couple of scores. WG takes seventh place in the CIK ranking, Quinter tenth.

“Things weren’t going well,” said Quinter coach Jeff Savage. “And when your best player is there, it’s frustrating. Our kind of offensive is to throw the football. “

In the Axtell game, Mendez played as a full-back and finished after more than 1,500 rushings last season with six carries for six yards. Coach Vincent also wanted his team to be more physical.

Wheatland-Grinnell defeated Quinter 58-26 at Grainfield on Friday, September 24, 2021. (Everett Royer, KSportsImages.com)
(Everett J. Royer)

“It was our first live contact and we played with some young people up front,” said coach Vincent. “We were just shocked. They came out and punched us in the mouth and let the ball run down our throats and tossed it all over the place. It was hard for us to swallow, but probably one of the best things that happened and I’m glad to have it on our schedule. “

In Week 2, Axtell defeated Kinsley, 58-34, a team known for running. WG won at Stockton, 63-8, in Week 3. Quinter and Kinsley are now 6-0 when not playing the Thunderhawks. Axtell takes over the number 1 in Division II after defeating the reigning national champion Hanover with 30:24 on Friday.

“The biggest part is probably just our ability to hit,” said coach Vincent. “With Axtell, I just had the feeling that we were all taking hits. I tell our kids all the time, ‘Don’t be the nail, be the hammer.’ And we weren’t at Axtell. You definitely beat us in anything and everywhere. So that was our biggest change. I was worried about Kinsley. … For us, to have this turnaround and mentality of simply being ready to strike, that was a good thing again. “

WG consistently played physical games against Quinter. Mendez helped the Thunderhawks get a 24-6 lead in the third quarter. Overall, he broke several tackles, including three on a nine-yard TD run towards the end of the third quarter.

Wheatland-Grinnell defeated Quinter 58-26 at Grainfield on Friday, September 24, 2021. (Everett Royer, KSportsImages.com)
(Everett J. Royer)

“In their first game, the running back didn’t get a chance to do his thing because he was eliminated in a full-back position,” said Savage. “Well, without him being touched, that changes things dramatically for her. They grew as a team. You brought out a lot of new things tonight that we haven’t seen in the movie. So if they’re faster and more athletic in space, they’ll eventually have big games, and that’s exactly what happened. “

He finished with 19 carries for 95 yards and four rushing touchdowns, kicked a couple of extra points, and returned a fumble in the first half of 54 yards for a TD. Mendez, a kicker surprise, can deliver touchbacks all the time.

“If he can get the ball back into the end zone, it makes our job a lot easier,” said Chapin.

The 150-pound chapin, who made Homecoming King at halftime and focused on defense, finished the game with three sacks, three forced fumbles, and an important quarterback rush that forced a fourth down incompleteness. Junior Adam Phillips recovered a fumble and acted as an athletic interceptor as he flicked the ball into the air and made the match. Chapin entered the career on Friday with an exceptional 12 forced fumbles.

“I’m doing my job and I’m getting into full swing on the defensive,” said Chapin. “So I keep my teammates fit for the offensive. Our old trainer always said: “Hit the ball.” … Be mean with your hands, aggressive hands. “

Trey Vincent, in his fourth year as a starter, finished 14 of 21 for 234 yards and four touchdowns. Jett delivered eight catches for 166 yards and four TDs, including two grandiose grabs just inside the left double-cover pylon. He set career highs for individual competitions that received yards and scores.

“They executed the vertical ball really well in the second half,” said Savage. “I mean, they were great throws with close cover and they made moves and those are just athletic moves that they made.”

Trey and Jett have partnered since childhood. Trey heard two of the plays of run calls that resulted in fade routes and touchdowns. Jett has scored at least one goal in 14 of his last 15 games.

“We were getting better and better, I felt like the first three weeks without the district games,” said coach Vincent. “That was an exciting week. Just because we knew Quinter was playing so well and we wanted to see where we were when we were better than we were when we saw Axtell. So yeah, it’s exciting for the guys to pull this off at Homecoming. “