Prep Grid Round-up ... Week 10: Skinner, Holt key 'Cats' win

SLATER -- Cody Skinner takes the role of leader seriously.

The Slater senior showed who was in charge on the football field Friday, racking up 209 all-purpose yards during a 35-7 non-conference victory over visiting Northwest of Hughesville.

Skinner broke off a 50-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, threw a 70-yard bomb to junior Travis Holt for a score in the second and sprinted 42 yards into the end zone during the third period. He finished with 139 rushing yards in 13 carries.

Holt likewise made an impact with a 63-yard dash midway through the third quarter to give the Wildcats a 20-0 lead and capped the team's scoring with a 37-yard run. Holt gained 134 yards on 7 runs.

The Mustangs (0-1) tacked on a late touchdown on senior Zac Crooker's 42-yard quarterback keeper.

Slater's defense allowed 168 rushing yards, but nothing in the air -- coming up with a pair of interceptions and nine sacks. Junior Brandon Bingaman made three of four extra-point kicks.

The 'Cats (1-0) will be at home Friday for their Lewis and Clark Conference opener against Paris, which dropped a wild 38-27 shoot-out with Monroe City.

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Orrick 36, Sweet Springs 0
SWEET SPRINGS -- Two-time defending Class 1 state champion Orrick came into the current season ranked No. 1, and appeared ready to make another run at the Show-Me Bowl with an impressive 36-0 I-70 Conference road win against a respectable Sweet Springs club.

Senior Kalija Rogers ran roughshod over the Greyhounds, to the tune of 193 yards on 22 carries -- including touchdown from 33 and 3 yards out. Splitting 25 touches, senior Aaron Blyth and junior Logan Eubank combined for 258 yards rushing and each got across the goal line.

A 14-yard pass from senior Clayton Jones to junior Turner Twyman in the final minute of the first half gave the Bearcats (1-0, 1-0 I-70) a 24-0 lead.

Meanwhile, Sweet Springs' runners were limited to 67 yards, 42 from senior Tyler Armstrong. Orrick had 501 yards of total offense.

"They're just as good as they have been," noted Sweet Springs head coach Tim Smith. "You know what they're going to do, run the ball right at you, but it's still tough to stop."

The 'Hounds (0-1, 0-1) will be at home against Friday to tackle league foe Windsor, which won last year's error-plagued 21-12 meeting.

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Knob Noster 50, Santa Fe 14
KNOB NOSTER -- Young Santa Fe proved to be its own worst enemy Friday during a 50-14 non-conference loss at Knob Noster.

A Class 2 playoff team last year, the Panthers scored four defensive touchdowns, three during a 30-0 first half. Senior Joe Rittman returned an interception 43 yards to spoil the Chiefs' game-opening drive, junior Orie Sahlfeld recovered a fumble on the next snap and rumbled 15 yards into the end zone and senior Brian Hughes dashed 80 yards with a pick in the final minute of the first half.

Knob Noster (1-0) also scored on a 22-yard field goal by sophomore Niko Schwenneker and senior quarterback Ivan Pyszka's 72-yard run before the break.

Sophomore Brice Reams added TD runs of 37 and 53 yards and sophomore Trevor Ellis brought an interception back 41 yards for a score.

Santa Fe was down 44-0 before it got on the board late in the third quarter on junior Ross Tieman's 6-yard run. Senior Josh Livingston, who ran for 111 yards, also had a 1-yard touchdown plunge during the final frame.

The Chiefs (0-1), who moved the ball for 16 first downs, play Saturday in Kansas City against the talented University Academy.