On Friday, Sept. 18, the Sabetha Bluejays faced off against the Hiawatha Red Hawks.

The Bluejays received the opening kickoff, allowing them to start off the game on offense. Sabetha started the drive on the right foot, quickly getting a first down. After a hard fought drive, senior Micah Lang punched it in from six yards out, starting out the game with a 7-0 lead.

On the ensuing drive, Hiawatha took possession, but not for long as a fumble forced by junior Christian Scott was scooped up by senior Jayton Meyer who made it into the endzone, where his own PAT pushed the Sabetha lead to 14-0. The Bluejays defense forced a stop on the Red Hawks’ next drive, giving their offense a chance to widen the margin on the scoreboard.

Sabetha worked down the field, eventually capping the drive off with a 26-yard pass from Lang that ended with senior Jack Frazee in the end zone, making the score 21-0. After another defensive stop, the Bluejays struck quickly as senior Curtis Fitzgerald broke off a 50-yard run, advancing the lead forward to a score of 28-0.

The second quarter began with the Bluejays once again opening the scoring in the quarter, courtesy of a five-yard run from junior Noah Menold, causing the lead to balloon to 35-0 with time to spare in the second half. As the defense kept the shutout going, they worked to earn the ball back for the offense. It paid dividends quickly as senior Lincoln Menold broke the Hiawatha defense once more, as he carried the football 68 yards for another score, once again increasing the lead, this time making the score 42-0.

As the second quarter was reaching its close, the Bluejays got one final chance, and they made it count as sophomore Hudson Scoby received a pass from Lang, generating a 30-yard touchdown, which had the scoreboard reading 48-0 as the two teams headed to the locker room for halftime.

Coming out of the second half, some younger players took the field for the Bluejays, and the defense held strong as they didn’t allow any points in the third quarter. However, the offense also started the half slow as the third quarter ended with the same score the half started with, 48-0.

The Bluejays broke the second half stalemate as junior Daniel Garber completed a 56-yard pass and catch to junior Kyson Wertenberger, making the score 54-0. As the game reached its end, Hiawatha ended the shutout, breaking off a 64-yard carry that gave the Red Hawks their first, and only, score of the game, leaving the final score at 54-6.

Lang would finish with 88 passing yards, 46 rushing yards and three total touchdowns. Meyer finished with a fumble recovery for a touchdown, as well as multiple tackles. Meyer also went five for five on extra point attempts. N. Menold, L. Menold and Curtis Fitzgerald all finished with a touchdown each.

L. Menold and Fitzgerald also rushed for a combined 144 yards. Garber also threw for one touchdown, which also ended up as Wertenberger’s only reception, earning him 56 yards and a touchdown. Frazee and Scoby each ended up with over 25 receiving yards and a touchdown.

Head Coach Kaleb Moeller reflected on the game saying he was proud of the team’s performance.

“We came into the game challenging the guys to start fast, they answered the call,” Coach Moeller said. “Getting our first turnover of the year and making that a defensive touchdown really gets the momentum on our side. Proud of the team on executing at a high level in the first half and in the second half our young guys keeping it going. We are developing the depth that we need at certain positions. We look forward to hosting a solid St. Marys team that has had a tough schedule so far this season. We will need to keep taking the next step to becoming better each week.”

Sabetha will welcome St. Marys to town for their Homecoming match up on Friday, Sept. 25. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.