No matter how hard they tried, the Meade High School Buffaloes couldn’t overcome deja vu to break Smith Center’s winning streak Friday night.
Smith Center held off Meade 10-0 in a Class 2A state football playoff game to earn its 78th straight victory, the longest among 11-man teams in the nation.
Smith Center, in quest of its sixth consecutive state championship, also celebrated head coach Roger Barta’s 300th win.
“We feel pretty good,” Meade head coach Scott Moshier said. “We played hard and gave it our best effort."
In the first quarter, both Smith Center’s and Meade’s first possessions were unsuccessful. After Meade couldn’t convert on fourth-and-1, Smith Center obtained the ball on the Meade 33-yard line.
One play later, Smith Center was on the board on a 33-yard a touchdown run by Matt Atwood.
“You know, hindsight is 20/20," Moshier said. “We wanted to get after it and we had some good things happening for us, but we don’t regret going for it.”
Smith Center continued to have possession of the ball the remainder of the first half, leading 7-0.
Trailing at the end of the first kicked the Buffs defense in to gear. On Smith Center’s next drive, Meade’s defense wouldn’t let them past their 10-yard line, forcing the Redmen to kick a field goal. The kick was good, giving the Redmen a 10-0 lead.
"Our defense played great," Moshier said. "I thought they played very well."
Both teams were scoreless in the second half.
Meade received the kickoff at the beginning of the third quarter, but failed to do anything with it.
On the next drive for the Redmen, they marched the ball all the way to the 1-yard line, but that tough Buff defense stopped them on fourth and goal.
Both the Buffs and the Redmen started to lose their grip in the third as Meade threw an interception, which the Redmen then fumbled and Meade recovered.
Unfortunately after the Buffs recovered the fumble, they were forced to punt, giving the Redmen the ball yet again. Meade recovered one more fumble and Smith Center caught one more interception before the third quarter ended.
As Smith Center began the fourth quarter, just as they were within scoring position, they threw an interception giving Meade the ball at their own 6-yard line.
Neither team could not muster any scoring drives in the second half.
Meade, which averages 305.1 rushing yards per game, were held to only 76 yards against Smith Center.
"We lost to a great team," Moshier said. "Coach Barta got his 300th win, and that’s really important. We wish we could of held off his 300th ‘til next season. Our kids really surprised a lot of people. They proved they could make it this far."
Smith Center rolled up 259 yards rushing, led by Colt Rogers’ 102 yards in 21 carries.
— Susie Van Heule
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No matter how hard they tried, the Meade High School Buffaloes couldn’t overcome deja vu to break Smith Center’s winning streak Friday night.
Smith Center held off Meade 10-0 in a Class 2A state football playoff game to earn its 78th straight victory, the longest among 11-man teams in the nation.
Smith Center, in quest of its sixth consecutive state championship, also celebrated head coach Roger Barta’s 300th win.
“We feel pretty good,” Meade head coach Scott Moshier said. “We played hard and gave it our best effort."
In the first quarter, both Smith Center’s and Meade’s first possessions were unsuccessful. After Meade couldn’t convert on fourth-and-1, Smith Center obtained the ball on the Meade 33-yard line.
One play later, Smith Center was on the board on a 33-yard a touchdown run by Matt Atwood.
“You know, hindsight is 20/20," Moshier said. “We wanted to get after it and we had some good things happening for us, but we don’t regret going for it.”
Smith Center continued to have possession of the ball the remainder of the first half, leading 7-0.
Trailing at the end of the first kicked the Buffs defense in to gear. On Smith Center’s next drive, Meade’s defense wouldn’t let them past their 10-yard line, forcing the Redmen to kick a field goal. The kick was good, giving the Redmen a 10-0 lead.
"Our defense played great," Moshier said. "I thought they played very well."
Both teams were scoreless in the second half.
Meade received the kickoff at the beginning of the third quarter, but failed to do anything with it.
On the next drive for the Redmen, they marched the ball all the way to the 1-yard line, but that tough Buff defense stopped them on fourth and goal.
Both the Buffs and the Redmen started to lose their grip in the third as Meade threw an interception, which the Redmen then fumbled and Meade recovered.
Unfortunately after the Buffs recovered the fumble, they were forced to punt, giving the Redmen the ball yet again. Meade recovered one more fumble and Smith Center caught one more interception before the third quarter ended.
As Smith Center began the fourth quarter, just as they were within scoring position, they threw an interception giving Meade the ball at their own 6-yard line.
Neither team could not muster any scoring drives in the second half.
Meade, which averages 305.1 rushing yards per game, were held to only 76 yards against Smith Center.
"We lost to a great team," Moshier said. "Coach Barta got his 300th win, and that’s really important. We wish we could of held off his 300th ‘til next season. Our kids really surprised a lot of people. They proved they could make it this far."
Smith Center rolled up 259 yards rushing, led by Colt Rogers’ 102 yards in 21 carries.
— Susie Van Heule
