HUTCHINSON, Kan.—
From the first play from scrimmage, it was clear that Conway Springs was in control in the 3A state championship game against Silver Lake. Cory Misak took the ball 57 yards to the end zone to set the tone right off the bat in a 49-7 shellacking over the Eagles for a 3A championship.For the Cardinals, the win over Silver Lake evens the score, not only tying the Eagles at seven total championships, but settling the score from a loss to Silver Lake in last year’s championship game.
“We have a great group of seniors and they came into the weight room right afterword and got started the next day,” said Conway Springs head coach Matt Biehler of his team’s preparation after losing in the championship last season. “They had a goal to get back here.”
Misak broke the first play of the game for a long touchdown, but he wasn’t close to being done. Despite injuring his shoulder in the semifinal game, the Conway Springs senior took the field in the championship and erupted for four touchdowns and 201 yards rushing; an integral factor in the Conway victory.
“They beat us (last season) and we wanted to redeem ourselves from it,” said Misak. “We came out and, looks like we did it. It wasn’t me at all. I have to give all my credit to my linemen. They did a great job this season.”
While the Cardinals’ shell-game offense was hitting on all cylinders, it was Conway’s defense that shut down the Silver Lake offense completely, taking the will to fight right out of the Eagles sideline.
With a stiff wind limiting the Silver Lake prolific passing attack, Conway Springs slammed the door on the running game, daring the Eagles to put it in the air. But after failing to move the ball on the ground, Silver Lake’s first two passes were picked off, one intercepted by Ryan Crowell and the other by Joe Gerber.
After two Misak touchdowns and a 14-yard touchdown run from Brian Doffing, Conway Springs had a 21-0 advantage, playing directly into wind in the first quarter.
Misak added his third touchdown to make it 28-0 at the half after the Eagles failed to get anything to work.
After one half of football, the Cardinals’ defense held Silver Lake to 38 yards of total offense, while Conway Springs ran the ball at will, producing 249 yards of offense.
“We knew that they are a high-powered offense and we just had to shut them down on defense,” said Doffing. “Defense wins championships and we showed up today. The secondary was picking everybody off and they were doing a fantastic job.”
In the third quarter, Misak put a final stamp on the rout with a 71-yard burst into the end zone for his fourth touchdown of the game. Jordan Ast ripped off another big play with a 45-yard touchdown run to put the Cardinals up 42-0 and take the will out of the Eagles.
Offensive lineman Marcus Hilger got a reward for his work in the trenches with a carry for a 1-yard touchdown plunge in the fourth quarter to put Conway Springs up 49-0.
With the clock ticking down on the Cardinals’ seventh state title, Silver Lake got on the board with a 56-yard touchdown pass from Evan Burdiek to Justin Malloy with a minute left in the game. But after dominating from the first play from scrimmage, the 3A crown went back to Conway Springs.
“You dream about it as a kid, winning state as a senior,” said Doffing. “It’s a dream. It feels awesome. You can’t really describe it.”
