SENECA, Mo. — The Seneca Indians continued their torrid start to the season with Friday night’s 54-21 trouncing of the visiting Reeds Spring Wolves.
Having outscored their first five opponents by a combined 227-14, the Indians entered the contest ranked No. 2 in Class 3.
Seneca quickly set the tone with its punishing run game — capping a 9-play, 75-yard drive via Jackson Marrs’ 11-yard touchdown run. Quarterback Gavyn Hoover then connected with Morgan Vaughn on the 2-point play for a quick 8-0 lead.
Lamar had been the only team to have found paydirt against the Indians’ vaunted defense this season, but the Wolves managed to do so on their second possession of the contest.
With the Reeds Spring leaning on its ground game for the majority of the drive, Seneca’s secondary was caught off guard when Daniel Fliflet hauled in a perfectly placed pass from Blandy Burall for a 22-yard touchdown strike to punctuate the 80-yard scoring drive. A failed 2-point attempt left the Wolves trailing 8-6 midway through the opening frame.
On the ensuing possession, Marrs chewed up major yards on the ground, accentuated by a 28-yard run to the 1-yard line. Marrs then punched it in from the goal line, followed by Roman Miller’s successful run on the 2-point play, handing the Indians a 16-6 advantage.
Seneca extended its lead to 24-6 early in the second quarter. The sequence of events unfolded after the Indians converted a 4th-down conversion with a 25-yard run — as Hoover finished off the drive with a short rushing score. Hoover then called his number on the 2-point play, gliding into the end zone untouched.
Looking to avert a blowout, the Wolves turned to trickeration, faking an end-around run as Christopher Daniels scampered down the left sideline for a 67-yard touchdown romp. The Wolves also hit on the 2-point play, with Burall linking up with James Dowdy to trim the deficit to 24-14.
The Indians managed two more scoring drives over the final five minutes of the half, with Marrs finding paydirt on both — including a 6-yard rushing score with 8 seconds showing on the scoreboard, swelling Seneca’s lead to 40-14.
The Indians ran 41 plays in the first half en route to a decisive time of possession advantage. Marrs also rushed for 115 yards on 15 carries and four touchdowns, while Hoover added another 48.
The Indians tacked on two more touchdowns in the second half, coasting to victory.
Seneca is now 6-0. The loss drops the Wolves to 4-2.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Seneca hits the road for a clash with Big 8 East foe East Newton (2-4), while Reeds Spring squares off with Aurora (3-3).
