By DONN ADAMSON
Daily Journal Sports Editor

Published: Monday, November 23, 2009
Updated: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 10:45 AM CST

NEW MADRID — In the state play-off system, every varsity football team (except the six state champions) ends their season with a loss. The Potosi Trojans won all eleven of their games going into Monday night’s Sectional Game at New Madrid, but they too fell victim to the play-off format with a 32-24 loss to the Eagles.

New Madrid’s defense had the answers for Potosi’s offense, but that was not true for the Trojans. The Eagles rushed the ball for 384 yards, and passed for another 38, while Potosi’s ground game netted them only 114 yards, with quarterback Matt Marler throwing for another 187.

The Eagles linebackers plugged the gaps made by Potosi’s linemen, who had a distinct size advantage, and running backs Brandon Bourbon and Dylan Wyrick had trouble finding a hole wide enough to get through the line.

Bourbon, who already had over 2300 yards rushing on the season was held to 115 by New Madrid’s defense.

The first half of play had the appearance of being a blow-out by the Eagles, and if they had not shot themselves in the foot twice, it might have been so. On their first six possessions, New Madrid was only forced to punt once. The Eagles scored three times and turned the ball over twice.

Potosi (11-1) drew first blood in hopes of continuing where they had left off in their earlier game with the Eagles, which they won 39-6. It took only five plays with Bourbon running the ball three times for 22 yards, and Marler connecting on two passes, the last a 26-yard scoring strike to receiver Dylan Wyrick. The two-point try was snuffed out by New Madrid.

New Madrid matched the score with a three-play drive of their own on their very next possession. Quarterback G’Darius Stevenson finished off the short drive with a 28-yard pass to Kony Ealy, and the Eagles also failed to convert the two. The Eagles fumbled the ball away on their very next possession, and Chad Smith intercepted Stevenson’s pass on possession number three.

Three plays later, Rodney Anderson intercepting a Marler pass, but they were unable to convert, actually losing ground due to a procedure penalty before having to punt. The Eagles committed 10 infractions in the game for a total of 75 penalized yards.

The Eagles took 12 plays to go 55 yards for their next scoring drive with running back Rodney Anderson making it all worthwhile as he fought his way through the line for nine yards and the touchdown. Anderson also ran in the two-pointer to make the score 14-6. It was the only conversion of the entire game.

Lamonte Wilson evened the turnover count with a second interception of a Marler pass, and this time New Madrid would collect on the mistake by Potosi. It took only one play from the line of scrimmage as Stevenson outmaneuvered tacklers to scamper 46 yards to the house.

The ensuing kickoff went to Rogers at the 13 yard line, who faked a hand-off to Bourbon and then took the ball himself, split the defense and broke loose to make a deposit of the football 87 yards later into the end zone, making it a one touchdown game at the half 20-12.

On their third possession of the second half, New Madrid would strike again with Stevenson finding an outside lane and turning on the afterburners to go 89 yards for the score. Stevenson finished the game with 291 yards.

The Trojans did not give up. With 11:07 left in the game, they had plenty of time to get two scores. A change of possessions gave Potosi another scoring opportunity. After a New Madrid sack of Marler, the junior quarterback struck back with a 44 yard pass to Garth Rogers, who stepped back inside the defender to make the catch and then fall into the end zone for the score.

With seven-and a half minutes left in the game and still an eight-point deficit, Potosi fans sensed a comeback by the Trojans. A sack by Bourbon of Stevenson gave even higher hopes, but they were soon dashed.

Stevenson faked a pair of hand-offs on the next play and then found a seam up the middle of the line, and once through, no one was going to catch him as he took the ball 40 yards to make the score 32-18.

The Trojans were unable to retaliate on their next possession, but getting the ball back with 95 second left, they were able to once again get within striking distance. A 51-yard bomb from Marler to Dylan Eye set up a four yard touchdown pass to Tanner Glore with 46 second left.

The onside kick was smothered by the Eagles, and a pair of knees ended the game, and also the Trojans’ perfect season.

Brad Wright led Potosi in tackles with 16, Tanner Glore and Robert King had 14 each.

New Madrid will next play Priory in the quarterfinals

Potosi 6  6  0  12 - 24

New Madrid  6  14  0  12 - 32

Scoring —

First Quarter:

P (6-0) Marler 28 yd pass to Wyrick (2-pt failed), 9:46

NM (6-6) Stevenson pass to Ealy (2-pt failed), 9:10

Second Quarter:

NM (6-14) Anderson 9 yd run (2-pt failed), 4:03

NM (6-20) Stevenson 46 yd run (2-pt failed), 2:50

P (12-20) Rogers 83 yd kickoff return (2-pt failed), 2:41

Third Quarter:

No score

Fourth Quarter:

NM (12-26) Stevenson 89 yd run (2-pt failed), 11:07

P (18-26) Marler 44 yd pass to Rogers (2-pt failed), 7:24

NM (18-32) Stevenson 40 yd run (2-pt failed), 4:49

P (24-32) Marler 4 yd pass to Glore (2-pt failed), 46.0