Both teams knew it was win or go home, with a loss at this point of the campaign bringing a sunset on your season. Riley County came to Sabetha on Friday, Nov. 4, with a chip on their shoulder after losing to the Jays in district play, and were riding the momentum of beating perennial power Silver Lake in their previous contest. The Bluejays focused on what they needed to take care of and powered past the Falcons to take the win, 48-13.

“We talked all week about the team that is more mentally tough, will win the game,” said Head Coach Garrett Michael. “There were some so-called distractions, 12 hours of hard rain, a muddy field, 30 degrees and the wind, but this team controlled what it could control and dominated the game. I’m just proud of how this team blocked out the weather and never let’s anything bother them.”

Riley County opened the contest with the possession, but their drive was cut short when junior linebacker Chase Frey sacked the Falcon quarterback, which resulted in a punt.

The Bluejays started on their own 31-yard line and marched 69 yards in seven plays, punctuated by a one-yard scoring run by junior running back Colin Menold to give his team their first lead of the night. Junior placekicker Nate Menold split the sticks and Sabetha led 7-0 halfway through the first quarter.

The Falcons scored late in the first period, but missed the extra point and failed to tie the game up. Sabetha led at the end of one quarter, 7-6.

C. Menold and senior running back Jonathan Renyer powered through the muddy conditions to pick up yards in big hunks. C. Menold added scores from four yards out and a scalding 61-yard burst. Renyer found the end zone from 24 yards away on an amazing effort, dodging defenders and refusing to be tackled, to help give the Jays a comfortable lead. At the half, Sabetha led, 27-0.

“The offense set the tone of the game by running right at Riley County,” Coach Michael said. “Our offensive line opened up holes to give way to 441 yards on the ground. The running backs carried the ball 70 times, in sloppy conditions, with zero turnovers.”

C. Menold added his fourth touchdown of the night with just under five minutes to play in the third quarter when he punched it in from four yards out. Also in the period, senior defensive end Davis Rokey had a tackle for a loss, the ball popped loose and junior defensive lineman Jacob Grimm scooped it up and rambled into the end zone 24 yards for the score. Sabetha was up 41-6 headed into the fourth.

Junior running back Kellen Wenger put the icing on the cake when punched in a one-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter. N. Menold was four of five on the night from the extra point department. The Jays eclipsed the Falcons 48-13 and Riley County returned a kickoff for a score in the fourth.

“The defense absolutely shut Riley’s offense down, after their one-touchdown drive,” Coach Michael said. “To hold a team, that’s in the regional playoff round, to 81 yards of total offense – is phenomenal.”

With the win, the Jays take the Regional title and advance to the Sectional game this week. Sabetha will host the 8-2 Caney Valley Bullpups at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11. The Bullpups are coming off of a 16-3 Regional win over Council Grove.