Flags foil Blue Comets in playoffs

ALTAMONT — In a rematch of the co-SEK League champions in the second round of the KSHSAA 4A playoffs, the Labette County Grizzlies bested the Chanute Blue Comets, 15-7, on Friday night.

“Hats off to Chanute and their effort tonight,” Labette County head coach Bradley Argabright said. “They played like a really good team that was ready to go in the playoffs. They gave us their best shots. We made adjustments at halftime and we finally got some things going. It was just a grind. We made a couple of big plays. We trusted what we were doing.”

Friday’s tilt was much more tightly contested than the 35-14 rout Labette County won two weeks ago — the Grizzlies and Blue Comets were knotted at nil-nil at halftime.

“We played more like we’re capable of,” Chanute head coach Clete Frazell said. “We didn’t play very well two weeks ago. I thought our defense had a phenomenal night. We just couldn’t get our offense going enough to score points. And we got in our own way more than anything. It was pretty frustrating.”

Chanute’s self-inflicted wounds were tinged with a yellow hue as the Blue Comets committed seven penalties totalling 100 yards, including four personal fouls.

Two of the personal fouls extended drives that the Grizzlies eventually scored their two touchdowns on.

“Those were huge,” Frazell said. “We talked about getting out of our own way. It was important for us to build drives and not go backwards. We didn’t pull that off.”

Grizzlies quarterback Aaron Wyrick cracked the egg on the scoreboard midway through the third quarter with a 41-yard scamper.

“We finally did something differently on that play,” Argabright said. “We gave them a look they’d seen but ran the other way. Aaron broke a tackle, hit the seam and he’s a good athlete when he gets in space. That was all from our line making a hole.”

Wyrick had his name called plenty on Friday night on both sides of the ball, routinely making score-saving tackles on defense while busting out the game’s first scoring play.

“He’s always ready to play,” Argabright said. “He’s our quarterback. We ask a lot of him. When we need a big run, we ask him to do that. He’s played both ways all season. He’s a wrestler who tackles well. He’s just a cog for us on both sides of the ball. We rely on him heavily.”

Chanute responded to that score with a touchdown drive of its own, capped by a run from Asher Love.

The Blue Comets outgained the Grizzlies in total yards, 267-226, but couldn’t inflict the final crack in the levee.

“We just had missed assignments,” Frazell said. “We wouldn’t get a linebacker blocked and he’d make the tackle. We were inches away a few times from busting a big one.”

Kris Harding II completed 11-of-24 passes for 130 yards and rushed for 80 yards on 17 carries. Love added 63 yards on 12 carries.

“Our defense has been our anchor all year long,” Argabright said. “Multiple times, they were in the red zone and our defense held strong. We had a blocked field goal and that was a huge momentum play. Our defense is always running to the ball and making plays. And we kept Harding contained. We buckled down and made plays.”

Deontae Fields accounted for Labette County’s second touchdown midway through the fourth quarter.

The Grizzlies went bold on the point-after try, faking an extra point with Kegan Bates dashing to the edge for two points.

That took the possibility of Chanute going for the win with its own two-point try off the table.

“We knew that if Chanute went down and scored, they’d go for two to win,” Argabright said. “I knew if it went to overtime, we would feel good. That’s a play we worked on for a few weeks. I knew we’d need the play. It didn’t execute the way we thought it would, Kegan made a great play to get to the pylon. It was a huge momentum shift.”

Chanute’s season closed with the loss to Labette County. The Blue Comets finished the year with a 5-5 overall record, a share of a league title and a playoff win.

“They left it all out there. They played their asses off,” Frazell said. “I can’t fault them. They played with great effort and in the game the whole time. I was happy with the way they played.”

The first-round comeback over Louisburg followed by a close contest in Altamont sweetened a season that appeared to go sour in Weeks 7 and 8, when the Blue Comets lost to Pittsburg and Labette County by a combined score of 77-14.

“I’m proud of our seniors for stepping up and getting us back on the right track,” Frazell said. “We got back to playing good football. That started against Louisburg.”

Up next

Chanute’s final remnants of the previous administration, namely Harding II and much of the line, graduate this offseason.

“We have to grow up a year and get kids bigger and stronger,” Frazell said. “We’ve got some good young guys coming. A lot of them were on the field this year. Our skill guys will be a year older. We’ve got guys to fill the void that can be pretty good football players.”

As for Labette County, the No. 2 seed in the KSHSAA 4A East, it hosts Ottawa in this Friday’s quarterfinals.

Ottawa took down Piper in the second round.

“They’ve always had a good program and we don’t know a whole lot about them,” Argabright said. “We know we’ll get their best shot. It starts in practice for us. We’re excited to play at home again. It’s a long road trip for them. For us, it’s the same routine.”