Trojans grind out 16-6 district win over Panthers

BELOIT — Stunned early by a pair of quick touchdowns, the Concordia defense settled down and shut Beloit out over the final three plus quarters.
While the Panthers defense was holding the Trojans in check, the offense was struggling to gain traction.
Concordia turned a fumbled punt into a touchdown early in the second quarter, but was unable to find the end zone again in suffering a 16-6 Class 3A District 8 loss to Beloit Friday night.
“They (defense) just settled in and played their assignments,” Concordia coach Austin Kingsbury said, “Offensively, they did some things to stop the plays we wanted to run. We never seemed to find a rhythm.”
Beloit scored touchdowns on its first two possessions of the game, and added two-point conversions following both to get out to a 16-0 lead in the first eight minutes.
The Concordia defense would come up with three fourth-down stops and force a punt on the Trojans’ final four possessions of the first half.
Beloit had the ball four times in the second half, punted twice, threw an interception and then ran out the clock.
Beloit was able to keep the Panthers out of the end zone the second half to secure the win.
Despite the loss, Concordia is assured of a spot in the 3A playoffs.
Concordia, now 3-4 overall, and Beloit, 4-3, are tied for third place in the district at 2-2.
Scott City, with a 35-12 win over previously unbeaten Colby, sits atop District 8 at 4-0.
Colby is 3-1.Goodland picked up its first district victory by knocking off Russell, 29-26.
The top four teams advance to the 3A playoffs.
Concordia will host Scott City on Friday night, and Beloit plays at Russell.
“With it being senior night we want to honor those guys by going out and playing a good game,” Kingsbury said, “We know anything is possible. We want to go out and play our best game of the year against Scott City.”
Beloit got the ball to start the game, and marched 63 yards in nine plays.
Quarterback Grant Arasmith capped off the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run with 7:45 to play in the first quarter.
Arasmith ran in the conversion to put the Trojans up 8-0.
Conordia took possession at its own 27-yard line following the kickoff, and Dyelan Reed broke a 12-yard run on first down.
Reed was sacked on a third down play, and the Panthers had to punt.
Getting the ball on its own 40-yard line, Beloit needed just two plays to score.
Tate Ahlvers ripped off a 60-yard touchdown run, and Arasmith ran in the conversion to push the lead to 16-0.
“It was just a matter of we didn’t read their guard pull very well and we didn’t fit very well with our front seven,” Kingsbury said of the early deficit.
The Trojans would not score again.
“They (defense) just settled down and played their assignments,” Kingsbury said.
Concordia would get the ball on the Beloit 20-yard line after recovering a fumbled punt early in the second period.
Two plays picked up a yard before freshman Keyan Miller scored on a 19-yard run with 10:15 to play in the first half.
Reed was unable to complete a pass to Chas Carlgren on the conversion attempt, and it was a 16-6 game.
Concordia had an opportunity to cut into the deficit late in the half.
Starting on their own 28-yard line with 1:31 on the clock, the Panthers moved down the field to the Beloit 22.
Reed completed four of five passes.
With seven seconds remaining, and no timeouts, Reed threw into the end zone, but  the pass was intercepted.
“With no timeouts it was fortunate we got down there,” Kingsbury said, “We called a play we thought might have a window to complete a pass, but they sat on it.”
Concordia picked up one first down on a fake punt on its first possession of the second half, but had to punt.
Beloit ran nine plays, including a 46-yard pass from Arasmith to Hayden Budke, and moved inside the Panther 10-yard line.
Arasmith, on third down and 11, had a pass tipped and intercepted at the 3-yard line by Tristan Mikesell.
The Trojans would force a Concordia punt.
The Panthers would get the ball back following a Beloit punt, and moved 21 yards in seven plays before Arasmith picked off a Reed pass.
Concordia had one final possession, but was unable to convert on a fourth down and five.
Beloit then ran out the clock.
Concordia finished with 208 yards of total offense.
Reed completed 10 of 26 passes for 101 yards.
Miller had three catches for 54 yards.