Fremont-Mills overwhelms Lenox in Eight-player playoffs

TABOR — Fremont-Mills was explosive on offense and dominant on defense in Friday’s Eight-player football playoff opener against Lenox.

The Knights jumped out to a 28-0 lead after the first quarter, then 49-0 lead at halftime in rolling to a 69-0 win over the Tigers.

Fremont-Mills (10-0) advances to the Eight-player quarterfinals where it will host Exira-Elk Horn-Kimbalton. The Spartans (7-3) crushed Bedford 56-12. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. in Tabor.

Lenox concludes its season at 6-4.

Lenox won the coin toss and deferred its choice to Fremont-Mills. The Knights took the ball at their own-15 after the opening kickoff sailed into the endzone for a touchback.

On the first play from scrimmage, Knights quarterback Mason Vanatta found Jaeger Powers open on a wheel route for a 65-yard touchdown pass and a 7-0 lead.

“That first play of the game, them going up top was big for them,” said Lenox coach Matt Malausky.

Three plays into the next Knights’ drive, Vanatta connected with Parker Powers on a 49-yard touchdown pass and a 14-0 lead.

Vanatta finished the night 7-of-8 passing for 178 yards and three touchdowns.

“They have so many weapons,” Malausky said. “Their quarterback can run and throw it.”

Vanatta was effective throwing the ball.

“His completion percentage was crazy,” said Fremont-Mills coach Jeremy Christensen. “That’s one stat we talk about all the time with passing. I don’t care about the yards, but our completion percentage has got to be high so we can be effective.”

Fremont-Mills’ offense did have to punt on its next drive.

But that’s when Parker Powers and the Knight defense jumped into the scoring.

Parker Powers picked off a Carter Still pass near midfield. Powers took the interception back for a touchdown and a 21-0 lead.

On Lenox’s next offensive play, Parker Powers picked off another Still pass and returned it again for another touchdown and a 28-0 lead.

The Tigers were deflated after the poor start.

“It’s really tough,” Malausky said. “Heads start hanging and pouting. And it was on big plays. That’s the toughest part.”

Lenox quarterback Carter Still felt the pressure from the Fremont-Mills defensive line.

“Our defense played lights out,” Christensen said.

The Knights’ defense set the offense with terrific field position all night. Lenox crossed the 40-yard line only once.

Lenox’s offense was held to 55 total yards. Jared Hensley had five carries for 27 yards. Still had 18 carries for 21 yards.

Fremont-Mills held Lenox to minus-1 yard passing with the two interceptions.

“Our defense did a great job containing their option,” Christensen said.

Lenox did have a first down off a bobbled snap on fourth down, but Lenox couldn’t sustain the drive.

Fremont-Mills picked up its first first down on the next drive on a 13-yard pass. Later in the drive on fourth and long, Vanatta connected with Beau Malcom on a 34-yard touchdown pass for a 35-0 lead and started the continuous clock.

On the next Lenox drive, Parker Powers picked up a botched Lenox snap on the option and took it 42 yards for six points and a 42-0 Knights lead.

Fremont-Mills added another another score on its next drive as Sam Phillips raced 36 yards for the score and a 49-0 lead, a margin the Knights carried into halftime.

The Knights rushed for 225 yards and four touchdowns on 31 carries.

“We were able to do some stuff in the run game knowing they were going to try to load the box,” Christensen said.

The Knights scored on their first drive of the second half as Logan Gaylord powered in from 2-yard out and a 56-0 lead.

Malcom added another touchdown in the waning seconds of the third quarter for a 63-0 lead.

James Switzer added a touchdown in the final seconds for the final margin.

Hensley led the Lenox defense with five solo tackles and six assists. Brenden Christensen had four solos and five assists. Colton Hogan had three solos and five assists. Sam Donaldson had three solos and two assists.

Lenox bids farewell to eight seniors — Dawson Tullberg, Jeremy Daye, Colby Lange, Hensley, David Cortez, Reggie Morehouse, Noah Standley and Cameron Nelson.

“We lose a lot of our offensive production,” Malausky said.

Malausky credited the work Lange and Standley did at defensive end.

“Our ends don’t do anything flashy. They’re there to turn everything in,” Malausky said. “They did a good job of that all season.”

For those coming back, the work starts soon in the weight room.

“The weight room and growing — that will be the key,” Malausky said.

He also pointed out one thing he’d like to see from his football players next spring.

“Going out for track’s another thing,” Malausky said. “The teams with good track teams are usually good football teams.”