Potosi defeats Doniphan after scoring 7 TD in first 14 plays

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By MATT KING

mking@dailyjournalonline.com

POTOSI – Noah Walton arrived to assist defensive tackle Justin Reynolds on fourth down when Potosi stuffed a third consecutive snap from the 1-yard line.

The Trojans broke open their Class 3, District 1 football playoff opener on the next play when Walton eluded one defender and accelerated for a thrilling 99-yard touchdown run.

Potosi scored on seven of its first 14 offensive plays Friday night, and clinched its first winning season since 2019 by overwhelming depleted Doniphan 63-31.

Walton finished with 258 yards and four touchdowns on just eight carries after finding the end zone six times in a victorious shootout against St. Charles West one week earlier.

Defensive end Karsen Boyer was a disruptive menace with three sacks among five tackles for loss. The Trojans thrived against the run while lagging in pass coverage.

Jaykob Putman burned the secondary for 248 yards on 11 receptions to pace Doniphan, which equaled its combined win total from six previous years after forming a program in 2018.

Walton plowed through contact in the second level to race 52 yards on the initial snap of the game, and scored his second TD from 21 yards after picking up 34 on the previous play.

The Dons, with just 20 healthy players in uniform at kickoff time, temporarily kept pace by executing two trick plays after Jaden Billings recovered a muffed punt at the Potosi 25.

Billings caught a lateral from quarterback Madden Wooldridge on the next play, and fired to wide-open receiver Jack Wellington for a 7-7 tie.

Putman showed his speed on a 79-yard kickoff return, then found the end zone on a 4-yard reverse before a missed extra point left the contest even at 13-13.

The teams combined for five scores over the first 5:05, and Clayton Richards regained a 20-13 lead for Potosi on a 15-yard run after Thomas Lambing changed directions on a 50-yard reception.

Wooldridge gained 12 and 15 yards on two keepers during the next Doniphan series, but was sacked by Boyer on a fourth-and-6 gamble near midfield.

The Trojans overcame two negative plays, and moved the chains on a 28-yard run by Walton after the Dons jumped offside. Walton then scored from 21 yards with 30 seconds left in the first quarter.

Putman needed just one play to respond on a quick bubble screen, gashing the middle of the defense for a 68-yard touchdown that brought the visitors within 27-19.

Potosi quarterback David Miller answered just as quickly after a short kickoff, going 53 yards through a crease along the right side for another explosive TD.

Wooldridge completed a solid 17-of-26 overall for 288 yards, and connected with Alex Jones for 20 as the Dons appeared poised to strike again.

But Reynolds contributed two crucial tackles for loss toward the eventual goal-line stand, and Walton put the Trojans farther ahead on the longest possible play from scrimmage.

Potosi then got creative on Halloween night when center Cole Juliette scored the two-point conversion on a short hook-and-lateral following an intentional delay of game.

A bizarre ruling occurred during the next Doniphan possession. Miller appeared to intercept and land on the turf with full possession after battling Putman at the apex of their vertical leaps.

A 30-yard catch was instead awarded to Putman, but a blitzing Richards jarred the football away from Wooldridge on a sack and linebacker Cole Fowler recovered the fumble.

Miller immediately looked deep down the right sideline on the ensuing snap, and Lambing shrugged off the covering cornerback before finishing off a 74-yard touchdown.

Miller attempted only four passes – completed two to Lambing – and added 95 yards on four carries. Potosi (6-4) entered intermission leading 49-19, but never enforced a continuous clock.

Putman received a long lateral on the second-half kickoff and bolted 56 yards down the right side, setting up a 2-yard scoring keeper for Wooldridge.

But the offensive line of the Trojans had clearly worn down the Doniphan front. Richards gained 25 yards on a carry before notching his second touchdown from 8 yards out at 56-25.

Doniphan (4-6) reached the Potosi 4 after a dazzling grab by Putman, but a subsequent pass was broken up by Blayne Maxwell in the end zone before Richards dropped Wooldridge on fourth down.

Putman intercepted Miller late in the third quarter, then caught a 27-yard touchdown after consecutive tackles for loss by Emmitt Maxwell pushed Doniphan back to a fourth-and-13 situation.

Blayne Maxwell capped the scoring for Potosi, however, on a 2-yard run with 9:16 remaining. Boyer then sealed his strong game with a third sack.

Richards provided 84 rushing yards on seven attempts. Potosi had to adjust its lineup after junior linebacker Carter Pyatt injured a knee in the first quarter and did not return.

The Trojans committed only three penalties, but surrendered 407 total yards ahead of their semifinal clash with rival Central on Friday.

Wooldridge had 55 yards on 15 carries, and also provided a sack from his middle linebacker spot. Wellington made four catches, and Jon Joyner chipped in 30 rushing yards for Doniphan.