For the second year in a row the varsity football team played Camdenton with a spot in the state semifinals on the line. This year the Purple Haze traveled to Parkway Central for the state quarterfinal game.
During the first drive of the game defensive end Jonathan Bonner sacked Camdenton quarterback Bo Dean twice to stop a drive in which Camdenton appeared to be headed towards the end zone after an already long completion.
“I made a couple strong moves on my blocker and I just went after Dean real hard,” Bonner said. “I wanted to make a big statement and make sure he knew how good our defense was. Especially after we shut them out last year.
The rest of the defense continued to hold ground to keep the game at 10-7 going into halftime following an early touchdown by senior running back Augie Brooks, and a field goal by senior kicker Zack Lazenby.
“Our defense is key to making us a well rounded team,” senior Ben Fagin said. “We make it a point to try and be tougher than every offense we go against. It makes our own offense better when we give them good field position and don’t let up any points.”
After halftime the score remained tied until the beginning of the fourth quarter when the Colts made it 16-7 on a touchdown. Camdenton blocked the extra point and then drove down the field for a touchdown of their own. After his man scored the touchdown senior safety Johnny Naughton blocked Camdenton’s extra point attempt to keep the lead at three.
“I knew from the second I lined up I was going to block the point after attempt,” Naughton said. “I wanted to make up for my coverage and help make a big play to lift the team up.”
His play did as a visible amount of excitement came from the Colts sideline with coaches and players jumping in celebration of the play. The next drive senior running back Khalen Saunders scored a touchdown a play after he turned a first down into 1st and goal from the 1 yard line as he pushed himself off the ground to avoid being tackled.
“Khalen’s touchdown really sealed the victory and gave us the momentum we needed to end the game strong,” Fagin said.
As the student section lined the track the Colts did finish with a 23-13 victory clinching a spot in the state semifinals where the Colts will face Webster Groves.
“It’s a phenomenal feat to be at the state semifinals again,” Naughton said. “Continuing to play well and show how tough we are will keep this season going.”