Maize South didn't just set the tone early in this game, they brought the pain. On a 4th and goal at the half-yard line the Mavericks' defense kept Hesston out of the end zone to hold them scoreless on the first drive of the game. At the same time, Maize South sent a message to Hesston that nothing would be easy for the Swathers.
Wes Phillips and Jesse Rogers took the lead for the Mavericks on the ground on the first drive of the game. Phillips somehow kept his feet on a beautiful 20-plus yard run that ended with him barely getting knocked out of bounds after a tremendous stiff-arming of his defender. A couple plays later Phillips would take it into the end zone for the game's first score, 7-0 Maize South.
Hesston started making some moves but the Mavericks' defensive secondary was on fire. Kale Bulloch, DeSean Washington and Josh Lewis made some beautiful plays to break up passes on third and fourth down.
The Swathers' first score came on a huge mistake by Maize South. Backed up inside their own 20 the snap sailed over Chase Bell's head and he fell on it in the end zone for a Hesston safety just before the half. However, Hesston's good luck would fade as the clock wound down. Near mid-field with about 30 seconds left in the half Wyatt McKinney's pass was intercepted by Bulloch and taken back almost to the end zone. The interception was finished off by a Jesse Rogers touchdown on the next play as Maize South took a 14-2 lead into the locker room at half.
The Mavs came out with a full head of steam in the second half as Rogers got two perfect blocks from his wide receiver and running back to bust him loose for a 70 plus yard touchdown run. That gave Maize South a 21-2 lead just a few seconds into the third quarter.
The Mavs' defense held strong throughout the third quarter and got the ball back into their offense's hands. Maize South nearly had the reverse sniffed out by the Swathers but Phillips was able to find the edge and then a hole as he finished off an 80 yard run with a touchdown. That score put the Mavericks up 28-2 still in the third.
Another great pass break-up by Washington helped give Maize South excellent field position again. Rogers should have been tackled quite a few times but the shifty running back managed to keep his feet to once again put his team inside the red zone. Phillips would catch a short pass from Ball to give the Mavericks 21 third-quarter points and a 35-2 lead.
Schadler would score for the Swathers in the third quarter but the extra point was not good making it 35-8 Maize South still leading.
It was 35-8 at the start of the fourth quarter and 7 seconds later it was 42-8 as Phillips scored once again, this time on a long pass play, to put the game out of reach.
Maize South is now 2-0 in district play with the Mavericks' final game coming against Circle next week. With this win Maize South also clinches a spot in the playoffs.
