Northwest ousted from 6A playoffs by Free State
For one quarter Friday, Northwest engaged in an offensive show with Free State that seemed to suit the host Grizzlies just fine.
Even with an unsuccessful extra point, Northwest trailed by just one and was well on its way to its season average of 49.3 points.
“That was the last thing we wanted – a shootout with a great team like Wichita Northwest,” Free State quarterback Bryce Torneden said. “Everybody knows they can score big points and gain big yards.
“We needed to lock it down.”
Torneden, a senior who has committed to North Dakota State, started the zaniness in the Class 6A quarterfinal with a 63-yard touchdown run on the game’s third play. But he also was a key player in the final 45 seconds of the first half, when Free State scored 14 points on its way to a 52-34 victory that ended Northwest’s season at 10-1.
Free State (8-3), one of four Sunflower League teams that reached 6A’s final eight, earned a semifinal matchup with Derby, a 46-27 winner over Junction City, next Friday at Derby. The Firebirds got there by stopping Northwest’s playoff run for the second consecutive season.
A common thread Friday to Northwest’s 27-16 loss to Free State last November was turnovers. The Grizzlies committed four in the 2014 meeting, and lost two fumbles and three interceptions in the rematch.
“We just made too many mistakes,” Northwest coach Steve Martin said. “They made the plays when they had to, and we just gave them too many opportunities.”
Free State led 21-20 after the first quarter before both defenses settled in. It appeared that might be the halftime score before Torneden directed the Firebirds on a 67-yard march in the final minutes.
Torneden, who ran for 107 yards and passed for 108, connected with Zack Sanders for a 29-yard touchdown that put Free State up 28-20 with 45 seconds remaining in the half. Free State’s Tanner Cobb then snagged a Northwest fumble out of the air, setting the Firebirds up at Northwest’s 8.
On the next play, Free State snapped the ball to running back Sam Skwarlo, who handed it to wide receiver Jack Flynn. Flynn flipped the ball over charging Northwest defenders to Torneden, who was uncovered in the end zone.
Free State led 35-20 at halftime.
“It was a momentum thing and it was huge,” Torneden said.
In addition to running for two touchdowns, passing for one, and catching Flynn’s touchdown toss, Torneden added to Free State’s lead with a 21-yard interception return in the third quarter to make it 42-20.
Free State shut out Northwest in the second and third quarters. Northwest quarterback Kevin Folsom passed for 222 yards, but completed just 14 of 37 attempts with the three interceptions.
“Our strength is working together,” said Northwest running back Antonio Joyner, who ran for a touchdown and caught a 35-yard touchdown pass from Folsom. “We made our first mistake and people started getting down on each other. We couldn’t do that.”
Skwarlo boosted Free State’s 404-yard offensive output with 23 carries for 162 yards and two touchdowns. His 34-yard dash in the fourth quarter added to Northwest’s reality that it wouldn’t advance to the state semifinals for the first time since 1996.
“We really were excited to play them,” Joyner said. “But I don’t think we came out with as much as we have in past games.”
Free State | 21 | 14 | 7 | 10 | — | 52 |
Northwest | 20 | 0 | 0 | 14 | — | 34 |
FS—Torneden 63 run (Lake kick)
NW—Folsom 2 run (Deckinger kick)
NW—Rounds 4 run (Deckinger kick)
FS—Skwarlo 54 run (Lake kick)
NW—Joyner 18 run (run failed)
FS—Torneden 42 run (Lake kick)
FS—Sanders 29 pass from Torneden (Lake kick)
FS—Torneden 8 pass from Flynn (Lake kick)
FS—Torneden 21 interception return (Lake kick)
FS—Lake 27 FG
NW—Joyner 35 pass from Folsom (Deckinger kick)
FS—Skwarlo 34 run (Lake kick)
NW—Folsom 1 run (Deckinger kick)
Individual statistics
Rushing—Free State, Skwarlo 23-162, Torneden 12-107, Bowlin 4-20, Bittinger 1-(-1). Northwest, Folsom 23-75, Rounds 12-46, Joyner 11-36, Bott 1-(-4).
Passing—Free State, Torneden 7-12-108-0, Flynn 1-1-8-0. Northwest, Folsom 14-37-222-3.
Receiving—Free State, Sanders 3-54, Flynn 2-34, Kema 1-12, McKinney 1-8, Torneden 1-8. Northwest, Mullins 5-89, Rounds 4-68, Joyner 2-38, Bott 3-27.
This story was originally published November 13, 2015 at 11:33 PM with the headline "Northwest ousted from 6A playoffs by Free State."