THOMPSON’S STATION – With a playoff berth up for grabs, the Independence High School football team relied on their potent offensive rushing attack to secure the final Region 6-6A postseason berth to knock off neighborhood rival Summit 30-12 on Friday.
The win was the third in four games for the Eagles, who earned a trip to Stewarts Creek to begin the Class 6A playoffs next week.
Independence senior Austin Oakes said his team built momentum late and wants to keep going.
“We knew we were close, and these past couple of games have given us a lot of confidence,” said Oates, who rushed eight times for 68 yards and a touchdown. “I think we are going to make a run in the playoffs.
“In my sophomore and junior year, we were first round exits in the playoffs. I want to be able to change that this year and make it past the first round.”
Friday showed how the Eagles might have what it takes, too.
“Our game plan was to stop the run,” Oates said. “The defense did a heck of a job doing that. We ran the ball and did what they did to us last year.”
“All year we think about this game and put our blood, sweat and tears into it,” added fellow senior Eli Baumann. “We knew that this game was huge with a playoff contending spot; we just put everything out on the field.”
The Eagles limited Summit to just a pair of touchdowns coming in the first and third quarters. They rushed for 191 yards.
Sophomore quarterback Matthew Horner provided 11 carries for 45 yards and a score, while Baumann and junior Hunter Mullen each added rushing touchdowns as well.
“The O-line just hit them in the mouth and did not look back,” Baumann said. “They got us the right blocks, and all we had to do was run them in.”
Summit drew first blood late in the first quarter, capping off a drive on a 1-yard run by senior Dillon Pierce for a 6-0 lead after a missed extra point.
Independence responded late in the second quarter, getting on the board in their first series with a 1-yard touchdown run. The Eagles led 7-6 at halftime as both teams managed just a TD apiece in the opening 24 minutes.
Independence opened the second half with a blocked punt tracked down by Mullen in the endzone for a safety for a 9-6 advantage.
Mullen scored roughly five minutes later on an 18-yard run to stretch the lead.
Baumann and Oakes sandwiched a Mason McElhaney rushing score with touchdowns of their own to further stretch the Eagles’ advantage.
McElhaney’s touchdown within the final seconds of the third quarter pulled the Spartans within 23-12. McElhaney finished with 104 yards rushing on 18 carries and completed 7 of 17 passes for 217 yards.
Oakes’ TD with 8:52 remaining capped the scoring.
Independence, which sits at 3-7 overal, advanced to the postseason for the 14th consecutive season. The Eagles, however, have exited after the first round in the past three seasons and haven’t reached beyond the second round since playing in back-to-back Class 5A championship games in 2015 and 2016.
Summit ended an injury-riddled season 3-7.
BRENTWOOD – The last time the Ravenwood High School football team completed a perfect regula…
Independence 30, Summit 12
SHS 6 0 6 0 – 12
IHS 0 7 16 7 – 30
Scoring Summary
1Q 2:57 SHS – Dillon Pierce 1 run (Kick failed);
2Q 3:05 IHS – Matthew Horner 1 run (Landric Mayeski kick);
3Q 10:20 IHS – Safety (blocked punt);
3Q 5:30 IHS – Mullen 18 run (Mayeski kick);
3Q 1:42 IHS – Eli Baumann 3 run (Mayeski kick);
3Q .17 SHS – Mason McElhaney 13 run (Pass failed);
4Q 8:52 IHS – Austin Oakes 3 run (Mayeski kick).
