Knights end season with loss to Cape Central
FARMINGON — The Farmington Knights varsity football finished their season and were knocked out of postseason play in a bitter 35-14 defeat at the hands of the Cape Central Tigers on Friday night.
“It was not what we wanted, and obviously we are disappointed with the end result,” said Head Coach Erik Kruppe. “We came expecting a victory, and we did everything to gain that victory, but in the end it didn’t work out, but I couldn’t be more proud of our kids.”
During the first quarter, the Knights and the Tigers traded downs with very little success on either side of the ball. Even a recovered fumble by Cape Central with 5:35 left in the first quarter nor a field goal attempt less than a minute and half later failed to put any points on the board.
The Tigers found the end zone first with nine minutes left in the second quarter when junior running back Aaron Harris broke through the line of scrimmage to rush for a 52-yard touchdown run.
Four minutes later, Cape Central marched down the field once again for another seven points when senior Kway’chon Chisom plowed through the Knights’ line from 9 yards out, making the score 14-0.
The Knights did not let the two touchdown deficit hold them back. Late in the second quarter, the hometown team mounted an offensive drive that began on their own 27-yard line.
Capitalizing on an offside call against the Tigers, junior quarterback Nathaniel Link hit Tycen Gray with a 24-yard roll out pass to give the Knights their first TD with only 33 seconds left in the game and putting them within striking distance.
The Knights had a chance to tie the game before half when they recovered a fumble kickoff return with only 18 second left in the half, but three attempts to find the end zone left the home team behind at half 14-7.
The second half began much the same way as the first with both teams trading downs and utilizing the center of the field.
But with 4:35 left in the third quarter, the Tigers broke the goal line after a 70-yard march down the field to put them up 21-7.
The Knights struck back just moments later after orchestrating a 68 yard offensive march which culminated a 13-yard pass to Cody Wright and cutting the margin to 21-14.
That was the closest the Knights could get as the fourth quarter belonged to Cape Central, which went on to score 14 more points before the final whistle.
Tycen Grey catches a touchdown pass from Nathaniel Link with 33 seconds left in the second quarter for Farmington against Cape Central. The Tigers would go on to win the game 35-14 and advance to the district final.
Farmington Knight Cody Knight gets ready to return the second half kick off in Friday night’s semi-final game agains Cape Girardeau Cetral Tigers. The Tigers defeated the Knights 35-14 and advance to district finals.
Craig Vaughn is a reporter for the Farmington Press and can be reached at 573-518-36296 or cvaughn@farmingtonpressonline.com
