In order to make the state football playoffs in Division VI, the Joseph City Wildcats needed to defeat Mayer last Friday, then have everything fall in the right places around the state to finish in the top 12 in the power rankings. The Cats did their part with a 50-42 win over the Mayer Wildcats, but, unfortunately, they couldn’t control the rest of the state. Joseph City finished the season ranked 13th in the power point system, just three-tenths of a point behind 12th seeded Duncan. As a result Friday’s was the final game of the season for Joseph City, which finished 4-4 on the year after closing on a three-game win streak.
Chance Bray scored on a 15-yard touchdown run early in the opening period, then tacked on the additional two points with a run to give the Cats the 8-0 lead with just 1:12 gone off the clock. Matt Fields connected with Landon Baldwin for a 21-yard toss and catch score, pushing the lead to 14-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Mayer scored midway through the second period, trimming the lead to 14-8. Less than a minute later Bray scooted in from 69 yards out, making the lead 20-8. Mayer took the lead at 22-20 with back-to-back scores in the final five minutes of the first half. With 44 seconds left in the half Bray gave the lead back to the Wildcats on a four-yard run. His second two-point conversion run gave Joseph City the 28-22 halftime lead.
The second half was a seesaw battle as the teams took turns scoring. Mayer regained the lead less than a minute into the third period on a 16-yard run, moving back on top 30-28. Joseph City answered at the 6:19 mark of the third on a Bray four-yard run, making the score 34-30. With 5:10 left in the period Mayer moved back in front on a 56-yard scoring run, but the two-point conversion attempt failed, making the score 36-34. That lead lasted just 10 seconds as Troy Poudrier returned the ensuing kickoff 71 yards for a score. Bray’s two-point run put Joseph City up 42-36. Mayer tied the game with 3:20 left in the quarter on a 42-yard run, sending the teams to the fourth period knotted at 42-42.
The two Wildcat teams combined for five third quarter touchdowns, but in the fourth Joseph City had the only score, which came at the nine-minute mark on a three-yard Bray touchdown run. Bray also scored the two-point conversion, making the final score 50-42 in favor of Joseph City.
Both teams piled up the yards on offense. Joseph City finished with 487 total yards and Mayer had 468. Fields completed one of two passes for 21 yards. Hayden Hendricks made good on two of six for 11 yards. Baldwin, Bray and Koby Smith each had one catch.
Bray had an exceptional final game on the ground, piling up 332 yards on 37 attempts with five touchdowns. Poudrier gained 51 yards on 13 rushes. Hendricks gained 38 on five runs, Baldwin gained 22 yards on six rushes and Fields carried once for 12 yards.
