Knights start fast in 56-26 win over East Mills on Homecoming night

Fremont-Mills got off to hot starts in each half and East Mills dug itself an early hole it couldn’t dig out of in a renewal of an old rivalry on Homecoming in Tabor Friday.

The Knights (5-0 overall, 3-0 in the district) opened the game with three quick scoring drives to take an early 22-0 lead before East Mills had run eight offensive plays en route to the 56-26 victory in Eight-Man, District 8.

Fremont-Mills then followed up on their 30-12 halftime lead with three straight TDs to open the second half.

“The first quarter, we came out and executed very well on both sides of the ball and special teams and our offensive line played tremendously well. The third quarter, the same team. We wanted to give some subs some opportunities. East Mills played a very good game and it was a good game.”

The Knights wasted little time getting on the board, marching 44 yards in six plays to take the early 6-0 lead on Jason Rusten’s one-yard quarterback keeper. After forcing a Wolverines three-and-out on the ensuing possession, Fremont-Mills added to its lead when Rusten connected with Spencer Phillips on a 27-yard wheel route. After the two-point conversion, F-M led 14-0.

The Knights’ defense got in on the action on the Wolverines’ second possession of the game when Broc Hansen stepped in front of a Logan Currin pass and returned the interception to the East Mills 24. Four plays later Phillips scored a four-yard scamper that put Fremont-Mills up 22-0 with just over three minutes to go in the opening quarter.

The teams closed out of the first quarter trading scoreless possession before East Mills appeared to pick up some momentum after the Knights pinned them deep at their own one yard line on a punt. The Wolverines marched 79 yards in 10 plays capped by Cavin Darnold’s one-yard touchdown. East Mills failed to convert on the two-point conversion making the score 22-6 with 8:03 to go in the half.

Fremont-Mills came right back with a drive of their own on Phillips third touchdown of the half from three yards out.

Down 30-6, the Wolverines weren’t prepared to fold just yet. On the very next offensive snap following Phillips’ TD, East Mills Josh Hopkins zig-zagged 65 yards thought the Knight defense for a 65-yard touchdown of his own.

The Wolverines failed to find the endzone on the two-point conversion leaving the score at 30-12.

Neither team would find the endzone the remaining 6:26 of the half.
The Knights started the second half in similar fashion to the opening half.
After forcing East Mills to punt on both of their first two second half possession, the Knights turned both of their possessions into points – on a Rusten five-yard scamper and a Rusten to Mackenzy Lang TD toss – to take a 42-12 lead with just over six minutes to go in the third quarter.

The Knights’ Parker Powers picked off Currin on the ensuing possession and three plays later Powers scored on a 25 yard sprint to make the score 48-12 with 5:04 to go in the frame.

After getting down 36-0 a week ago in a wild 66-54 loss on the road at Stanton last Friday, East Mills coach Andy Irwin said he talked with his team all week about getting off to a quick start.

“We talked coming into this game, we couldn’t get behind because it would be real difficult to come back. We felt like we didn’t let it get to out of hand in the first half and we felt like we still had a shot coming out of halftime but when the score they put on us and then the interception hurt that.”

Irwin, with his team down 48-12, made the decision to pull his starters with 5:04 to go in the third quarter.

“We know we have to win next week,” Irwin said. “That was the point where we had to make the decision do we want to play for our playoff lives or play for tonight. We had seven guys not padded up tonight and we lost another kid tonight.

“We’ve had a lot of injuries. It’s not an excuse but we have to come back next week or we’re looking at being out of the playoffs.”

The Knights finished with 432 total yards, including 344 on the ground. Powers carried 15 times for a career high 178 yards and Phillips added 67 yards on scored three total TDs.

Rusten was efficient passing, finishing 6-for-9 for 88 yards and a pair of scores, and running (34 yards and two TDs).

After gaining just 39 yards in the first quarter, the Wolverines finished with 323 total yards on the night. Hopkins picked up 108 yards rushing.

The game was a renewal of a rivalry between two cross county rivals after a two-year hiatus. The Knights, who have now won five straight in the series, won the last meeting 58-22 in the 2011 state quarterfinals.

“It’s always nice to place a school that’s bordering your school district that’s 10, 15 miles away,” Christiansen said. “It’s always nice to see them at activities. It’s nice to go against them.”

The Knights will head to Stanton Friday for another key District 8 showdown. The Vikings are 3-2 on the year and 3-0 in the district. A win would put the Knights in control in the district standings.

“We have to keep going one game at a time moving forward. We have Stanton this week and we’re assuming they’re going to be undefeated in the district. So we have to be ready to play.”

Scoring Summary
FM    22  08  18  08  56
EM    00  12  08  06  26

Scoring Summary
FM – Jason Rusten, 1 run (conversion failed).
FM – Rusten to Spencer Phillips, 27 pass (two-point conversion good).
FM – Phillips, 4 run (two-point conversion good).
EM – Cavin Darnold, 1 run (conversion failed).
FM – Phillips, 3 run (two-point conversion good).
EM – Hopkins, 65 run (conversion failed).
FM – Rusten, 5 run (conversion failed).
FM – Rusten to Lang, 11 pass (conversion failed).
FM – Powers, 25 run (conversion failed).
EM – Matthew Walliser, 44 run (two-point conversion good).
FM - Logan Gaylor, 10 run (two-point conversion good).
EM –Kyle Ryun, 25 pass from Dylan Switzer (conversion failed).