Bearcats fall to Ponies

By Nick Johnson, assistant coach
KCC 20 – WAO 28
The Bearcats took on the Ponies of Warren-Alvarado-Oslo in a Top of the State conference matchup in Warren on Thursday, Oct. 10. KCC entered the game with a record of 3-3, looking to build a winning streak after a big win over Grygla-Goodridge last week. WAO also entered the game with a record of 2-4 and looking to build momentum as the playoffs draw closer.
The Bearcats started the game on a high note, with Eli Muir coming up with an interception and returning back into Pony territory. However, issues from weeks past again hampered the Bearcat offense, and the ball was turned over on downs to the Ponies. The Ponies capitalized, opening the scoring on a 49-yard touchdown run by quarterback Kaden Pierce and taking a 7-0 lead.
After trading punts to open the second quarter, the Ponies extended their lead to 14-0 midway through the quarter on a 2-yard touchdown run again by Kaden Pierce. KCC started to find a rhythm late in the second quarter driving 66 yards in the final 2 minutes of the half. That drive was capped off by a 8-yard touchdown pass from Eli Peterson to Brody Scalese, cutting the halftime deficit to 14-6.
For much of the first half, the Bearcats were unable to get key stops on defense, leading to long drives for the Ponies. This continued throughout the second half, with the Ponies driving 98 yards to extend the lead to 21-6, thanks to another touchdown run from Kaden Pierce, this time from 9-yards out.
The Bearcats battled back in the fourth quarter and give themselves a chance to win. Eli Peterson tossed another touchdown pass, this time to Kellen Johnson, for a 6-yard touchdown, cutting the lead to 21-14. The Ponies had an answer however, as Pierce ran in his fourth touchdown of the day on a 24-yard scramble, making it a two-possession game once again with only 5 minutes left in the game. KCC threw another punch, trimming the lead back down on a 57-yard touchdown run by Ashton Knutson. Trailing 28-20 with only a few minutes remaining, the Bearcats attempted an onside-kick, but failed to recover the attempt, giving the Ponies the ball and the chance to run out the clock.
Falling 28-20 to Warren-Alvarado-Oslo, the Bearcats move to 3-4 on the season with just one game remaining in the regular season. KCC will host their regular season finale in Hallock on Tuesday, Oct. 15, taking on the Patriots of Win-E-Mac.

Scoring Summary:
1st Quarter
WAO_Kaden Pierce 49-yard touchdown run (Washington kick good)
2nd Quarter
WAO_Kaden Pierce 2-yard touchdown run (Washington kick good)
KCC_Eli Peterson 8-yard touchdown pass to Brody Scalese (Peterson run no good)
3rd Quarter
WAO_Kaden Pierce 9-yard touchdown run (Washington kick good)
4th Quarter
KCC_Eli Peterson 6-yard touchdown pass to Kellen Johnson (Knutson run good)
WAO_Kaden Pierce 24-yard touchdown run (Washington kick good)
KCC_Ashton Knutson 57-yard touchdown run (Peterson pass no good)

KCC Offensive Leaders
Passing_Eli Peterson – 4/7, 71 yds, 2 td, 1 int
Rushing_Ashton Knutson – 15 att, 107 yds, 1 td; Eli Muir – 11 att, 47 yds
Receiving_Eli Muir – 1 rec, 38 yds; Brock Scalese – 1 rec, 19 yds; Brody Scalese – 1 rec, 8 yds, 1 td; Kellen Johnson – 1 rec, 6 yds, 1 td

KCC Defensive Leaders
Brody Scalese – 14 tackles, 11 ast; Track Folland – 2 tackles, 9 ast; Kellen Johnson – 3 tackles, 7 ast, 1 tfl, 1 sack; Brock Scalese – 3 tackles, 5 ast, 1 pbu; Ty Vig – 1 tackle, 3 ast, 1 tfl, 1 pbu; Eli Muir – 2 tackles, 1 int