Prep Grid Round-up ... Week 9: No. 5 Tipton gives 'Hounds district loss

TIPTON -- To beat an opponent the caliber of fifth-ranked Tipton, shooting one's self in the foot must be avoided.

Sweet Springs had a bullet for every toe Friday during its 24-6 Class 1, District 8 home loss to the Cardinals, its seventh in a row in the series. The Greyhounds controlled the ball by a 72-44 margin in total snaps, but then lost the handle on four fumbles and an interception.

Sweet Springs' opening drive chewed up 15 plays, but the last one was a turnover. On Tipton's only play of the first quarter, freshman Dallas Peoples ripped off a 61-yard touchdown run.

The 'Hounds drove again, senior Billy Martin apparently scoring on fourth down from the 4-yard line, only to have the play called back on a holding penalty. A pass on the next play was dropped in the end zone.

The Cardinals zipped downfield, senior Chris Bracht going in on a 21-yard pass from senior Marcus Brinkley for a 14-0 halftime lead.

Tipton added to its cushion with a 17-yard dash by senior Jonathan Loganbill in the third period and Peoples' 4-yard run on the first play of the final frame.

The woes continued for Sweet Springs, losing another touchdown when senior Tyler Dohrman's 23-yard run was brought back due to an inadvertent whistle and then fumbling the ball away.

Martin finally cracked the goal line in the game's final minute on a 1-yard sneak after tossing a 9-yard pass to senior Brent Boland and a 30-yarder to junior David Hall.

The Cardinals (9-0, 2-0 District 8), who rushed for 258 yards on 33 carries, can secure their ninth straight district title with a home win Friday against Northwest of Hughesville.

Dohrman had 83 yards on the ground for the 'Hounds (4-5, 1-1), who must win Friday at Sacred Heart to return to the playoffs.

Fayette 30, Slater 3

SLATER -- Slater held off Fayette for as long as it could Friday, but eventually the Falcons pulled away for a 30-3 Lewis and Clark Conference road win.

The victory kept the Falcons' hopes alive in Class 1, District 9, with this week's game against Westran deciding the second playoff spot from the loop after Salisbury downed the Hornets, 22-20, to claim the title.

Fayette (4-5, 1-3 L&C, 1-1 District 9) scored on its first play, a 65-yard run by junior Trea Allen, then got two second-quarter touchdown runs -- from 7 and 15 yards out -- from senior Boone Priddy.

The Wildcats avoided their third straight shutout loss with junior Brandon Bingaman's 25-yard field goal with three seconds left in the first half, but were unable to rally after the break.

Junior Novy Foland dove in from a yard out during the third quarter and Priddy got his third TD on a 6-yard run in the fourth.

Slater was limited by a shoulder injury to senior quarterback Cody Skinner, who was moved to the slot for his final home game. The 'Cats (2-7, 0-4, 0-2) close the season Friday at Salisbury.

Concordia 52, Santa Fe 0

ALMA -- Junior Kent Schuette tallied 169 total yards and three touchdowns Friday to lead Concordia to a 52-0 Class 1, District 10 win at I-70 Conference rival Santa Fe.

Schuette scored on runs of 9, 11 and 2 yards during the first half and a 19-yard touchdown run by senior Brandon Dunn was part of the Orioles' 24-point second quarter.

Dunn went in from the 4 and junior Alic Frerking returned an interception 29 yards as the Orioles took a 46-0 lead into the final period. Dunn and sophomore Collin Werths combined for 169 of Concordia's 351 rushing yards.

The Orioles (7-2, 5-1 I-70, 2-0 District 10), who secured a playoff spot, visit Wellington-Napoleon to determine the district championship Friday.

Junior Ross Tieman ran for 39 yards and passed for 78 to pace the Chiefs, shut out for the fourth time this season. Santa Fe (2-7, 1-5, 0-2) will be at home Friday for its season finale against St. Paul, which also was eliminated by its 35-6 loss to the Tigers.