By Jeremy McGuire
Hays Post

Ellis 42, TMP 32

TMP and Ellis battled all night long on Friday at Lewis Field Stadium.  TMP had their only lead of the game and the season following a 29 yard field goal from Jace Rueschhoff that gave the Monarchs a 3-0 lead.  Ellis would take the lead on a 1 yard run from Easton Smith but couldn’t convert the extra point kick and led 6-3.  TMP would tie the game at six points apiece following a second Rueschhoff field goal.

It was a back and forth second quarter as the two teams would traded scores and had a 12-12 tie.  Ellis scored the next 14 points on a pair of Smith touchdown passes.  The first, a 55 yard strike to Ryan Herl.  The second a 26 yard connection with Geoffrey Soneson.  TMP would pull to within one score just before the half when Gavin Schumacher plunged into the end zone from one yard out making the score 26-19 at halftime.

Ellis would get the ball to start the second half and TMP would promptly take the ball back on a Schumacher interception followed by his second one yard touchdown run to tie the game at 26.  The Railroaders would score 16 unanswered points thanks in large part to Clay Feik who chipped in with a 2 yard run and two point conversion followed by a 39 yard rumble.

TMP would score as Luke Ruder threw his first touchdown pass of the season to Tucker Rhoades midway through the fourth quarter but he Monarchs were not able to convert the two point conversion.  Ruder finished the game with a career high 296 yards through the air and 89 on the ground.  Neither team scored the rest of the way and Ellis picked up their second win, 42-32, of the season and will be at home on Friday against Sublette.  TMP drops to 0-2 and will travel to Smith Center to take on the winless Redmen.

JASON CAULEY POST-GAME

GAME HIGHLIGHTS