Senior Kenzie Thorp closed out his prep career with a pair of touchdowns during the Chiefs' 41-19 loss to Wellington-Napoleon. (Chris Allen/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge]

SALISBURY -- What would become a 20-game losing streak for the Slater football team began at Salisbury during a Class 1, District 14 title showdown two years ago.

That's also where the skid ended Friday, with the Wildcats pulling out a victory in the game's final minute, beating the Lewis and Conference rival and seven-time-defending district champions, 22-20.

It became apparent the breaks may finally go Slater's way on the opening kickoff, a pooch kick which bounced toward the 'Cats to be recovered by sophomore Chris Scott at the Panthers' 40-yard line. It took eight plays, but Slater scored when sophomore Cody Skinner snuck in from a yard out.

Senior Aric Falls broke off a 21-yard touchdown run midway through the second quarter for a 16-0 lead, but Salisbury answered with an interception return for a touchdown.

Sophomore Matt Koenig's 35-yard run closed the margin to three points by halftime, the Panthers (4-6, 1-4 L&C, 1-2 district) going ahead with 6:32 remaining in the game on senior Corey Jolliffe's 4-run rumble.

When Slater got the ball back, things went awry immediately, the first snap getting loose and retained by the 'Cats at their own 4-yard line.

Two Salisbury defenders bumped into each other to prevent an interception on the next play, but then senior Kyle Durham caught a 17-yard pass in traffic on third down and Skinner kept the ball for the needed yardage on fourth and 1.

Slater (1-9, 1-4, 1-2) worked the ball downfield to set up a first and goal at the Panthers' 3. Three plays netted only two yards before Skinner found Durham open in the end zone for the game-winning score with 22 seconds left.

Sweet Springs 40, St. Paul 16

CONCORDIA -- All four Sweet Springs seniors scored Friday during a 40-16 Class 1, District 8 contest at St. Paul, landing the Greyhounds in fourth place in the final I-70 Conference standings.

Senior Chris Dickinson had all three Sweet Springs touchdowns in the first half, on runs of 52, 15 and 39 yards. He would finish with 128 yards on 12 carries.

The Saints (0-10, 0-7 I-70, 0-3 district) enjoyed a brief 7-6 lead late in the first quarter when sophomore Jordan Bredehoeft threw a 26-yard pass to senior Steven Schlesselman. Those two also hooked up for a 12-yard score on the final play of the game, Bredehoeft tallying 201 passing yards and Schlesselman making 10 catches for 115 yards.

Dickinson found senior Travis Hinck on a 26-yard scoring strike in the third period to make it 28-7. An 8-yard run by senior Ronnie Hunter and senior James DeWeese's 31-yard dash capped the 'Hounds' scoring in the final frame.

DeWeese rushed for 139 yards and Dickinson, junior Ethan Smith and sophomore Brent Boland each had interceptions for Sweet Springs (6-4, 4-3, 1-2) -- which enjoyed its first winning season since sharing the league title in 2002.

Wellington 41, Santa Fe 19

ALMA -- Wellington-Napoleon jumped out to a 27-0 first-quarter lead then tallied a pair of touchdowns in the final frame after Santa Fe crept back into Friday's Class 1, District 13 contest for a 41-19 I-70 Conference road win.

Senior Brantley Niendick scored on runs of 5 and 49 yards, senior Tim Welsh went 55 yards with sophomore Caleb Kropp's pass and senior Kenny Strohman galloped 92 yards to put the Tigers in command.

The Chiefs began their comeback with senior Kenzie Thorp's 43-yard interception return and closed the deficit to two touchdowns on a 1-yard plunge by Thorp in the third period.

However, Kropp hit Welsh on a 33-yard scoring pass and sophomore Spencer Ward rumbled in from 12 yards out to prevent a Santa Fe comeback. Wellington (8-2, 5-2 I-70, 2-1 district) was led by Strohman's 165 rushing yards and Welsh's 113 yards in receptions.

Sophomore Josh Livingston tacked on a 3-yard TD run late in the game for Santa Fe (4-6, 2-5, 1-2), which doubled its win total from a year ago.