East stuns Northwest in walk-off fashion

WICHITA, Kan. (Catch it Kansas) - East scored 20 unanswered in the final nine minutes, including a rushing touchdown on the final play of the game, to stun Northwest 34-28 on the road Friday night.

It’s the first loss of the season for Northwest, which entered the week No. 1 in the CIK 6A rankings.

East opened the game by methodically driving the length of the field, eventually taking a 7-0 lead on a Daeonte Mitchell touchdown.

Northwest missed a field goal on its next possession, but slowed East the rest of the half by forcing two turnovers and earning a fourth-down stop.

The Grizzlies eventually found the board on a rushing touchdown by Cencere Thompson and took a 14-7 lead on a Mikey Lopez touchdown reception.

Northwest went up 28-14 with under nine to play before Mitchell scrambled for a 65-yard touchdown run, and a two-point conversion cut the deficit to six.

He ran in another touchdown with five minutes remaining to tie the game, but East chose to go for two and failed, leaving the game tied at 28.

East drove down the field and was set to attempt a walk-off field goal in the final seconds. But a botched snap left the ball in the hands of MJ White, who scrambled 25 yards to the pylon for the game-winning touchdown.

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