Round-Up: Stanton, Griswold eliminated from playoffs

 LAMONI — After fighting to keep it close at halftime, the Stanton Vikings were eliminated from the 8-man playoffs as they lost on the road at Graceland University to the Lamoni Demons 56-38.

Lamoni got on the board early with a five-yard touchdown run by Colton Ranney on the team’s opening drive. Austin Tull converted the two-point play and Lamoni led 8-0.

It was Ranney who scored again after Stanton went three-and-out by returning a punt 65 yards for a touchdown. The Demons missed the two-point conversion, but Lamoni led 14-0 with 7:57 to go.

The Vikings got on board on the ensuing drive as Brady Johnson went long for his first touchdown catch. Chris Jones caught the two-point conversion and the lead dwindled to 14-8 for Lamoni with 7:42 to go in the first quarter.

A minute later, it was Ranney with another touchdown run, this one for 43 yards as Lamoni took a 22-8 lead with 6:29 to go after the two-point conversion.

Stanton put together an extended drive as quarterback David Sorensen completed passes to Johnson. However, on 4th and goal, Jones dropped a pass short of the end zone, turning the ball over on downs.

This led to Lamoni adding to its lead, highlighted by a catch downfield at the Stanton 33-yard line by Ranney. 

Samuel Jordison scored on the next play and the Demons were up with 1:59 left in the first quarter.

Stanton refused to go away quietly as Austin Becthold scored on the next drive, a 29-yard touchdown pass on fourth down. Connor Hultman caught the two-point conversion and the lead was down to 28-16 with 43 seconds left in the quarter.

The Stanton defense stepped up on the next drive, forcing Lamoni to go three-and-out for the first time in the game. The Vikings blocked the fourth down punt and set themselves up at the 15-yard line.

On the third play of the drive, Alex Becthold ran it in from one-yard out to get the touchdown. 

Johnson caught the two-point conversion and suddenly the 20-point lead was down to four (28-24) with 10:16 to go until halftime.

Stanton recovered the onside kick and had the ball near midfield.

Stanton’s momentum appeared to halt, but Sorensen completed a first down pass to Becthold, who took it well into Demon territory on fourth down.

Johnson soon gave Stanton the lead thanks to a 12-yard touchdown catch. Becthold got the two-point play and Stanton led 32-28 with 8:09 to go until halftime.

Johnson finished the game with 14 catches for 250 yards and three touchdowns.

Stanton recovered a fumble on another onside kick to get the ball back again. However, after a false start, Sorensen was picked off by Chase Potter around midfield.

Several plays later, Ranney had another touchdown, this time completing a 29-yard pass to Leo Savage on fourth down. 

Lamoni missed the conversion, but led 34-32 with 6:29 left in the first half.

The next scoring play didn’t come until the opening seconds of the third quarter when Ranney scored another touchdown on the opening kickoff. Ranney got the two-point conversion and Lamoni led 42-32.

The Demons tacked on six more points in the final seconds of the third quarter when Ranney took the option pitch from Tull and beat the Stanton defenders to the corner on a 32-yard touchdown run. Through three quarters, Lamoni led 48-32.

Sorensen was injured during the third quarter, so Stanton went with Hultman at quarterback.

Hultman completed his first touchdown pass of the season in the fourth quarter  on a 53-yard toss to Johnson. Stanton missed the conversion and trailed 48-38 with 7:23 left in the game.

The final points of the game came with 4:48 to go thanks to a keeper touchdown by Tull. Jordison got the two-point conversion and Lamoni pulled ahead 56-38.

It’s the second loss for Stanton to Lamoni this season. The Vikings lost to Lamoni in week two, 56-26.

The Demons played in the second round Monday night at home versus Exira-EHK.

Stanton finishes the 2014 season with a 3-7 record.

Logan-Magnolia 49, 

Griswold 20

The Griswold football season came to an end with a first round loss on the road to Logan-Magnolia last Wednesday.

The loss snapped a two-game winning streak for Griswold. It’s also the second time Logan-Magnolia has defeated them this season. In week seven, Logan-Magnolia won 48-16.

Griswold had three rushing touchdowns in the game, two of which came courtesy of Caleb Schaaf.

The senior running back had 79 yards on 17 carries.

Hadley Ogg had the other touchdown as he carried the ball seven times for 32 yards.

Derek Kirchhoff was the leading rusher for Griswold as he finished with 85 yards on 17 carries.

Jordan Vetter had 65 yards on three carries for Griswold.

Griswold passed the ball in the game for the first time in four games.

Walker Mundorf completed 5-of-11 for 88 yards. Three of those passes went to Vetter, who had 50 yards.

Wyatt Robinette was the leading tackler for Griswold as he finished with 12 for the game. Vetter had nine tackles, while Garrett Beebe and Anthony Lappe each had five.

Logan-Magnolia was home Monday night for the second round as they hosted West Sioux.