COLUMBIA, Mo. — Central (Park Hills) scored the first 26 points of the Class 3 state title game and looked in complete control with a 20-point cushion by the intermission before Seneca stormed back in the second half to cut the deficit to one possession with less than six minutes to play in regulation.
The Rebels (11-3) staved off the Indians’ comeback by forcing a late turnover before icing the game with a big-play score in the waning minutes to earn a 48-34 win as well as the right to be called the Class 3 state champions on Friday at Faurot Field on the campus of the University of Missouri.
REBELS DOMINATE FIRST HALF
Central got started early when QB Casen Murphy capped off a six-play drive with a 12-yard touchdown pass to WR Jobe Bryant for a 6-0 lead with 10:06 on the clock in the opening period.
Bryant added a 5-yard touchdown run near the five-minute mark before he scored his third touchdown of the opening period on an 18-yard reception with 14 seconds left in the first quarter to make the score 18-0.
Bryant hauled in another 18-yard touchdown pass from Murphy midway through the second period to put the Rebels on top 26-0.
Seneca got on the scoreboard late in the first half when RB Jackson Marrs found paydirt from 5 yards out with four minutes left before intermission to make the score 26-6.
INDIANS SURGE BACK IN SECOND HALF
Seneca took the ball to open the second half and drove down the field for a touchdown out of the break to trim the lead to two possessions, 26-12, when Marrs crossed the goal line on a short-yardage TD with 9:05 left in the third period.
The Rebels answered back when WR Kannon Harlow took in a touch pass from Murphy in motion and carried it around the near edge and broke free for a 50-yard touchdown to push the lead back up to 34-12 after Bryant hauled in the 2-point conversion.
Marrs found the end zone for the second straight drive of the second half when he found the goal line on another short-yardage score with 6:23 left in the third quarter to cut the Indians’ deficit to 34-20 after Marrs converted the 2-point try.
Murphy went back to Bryant on the ensuing Central drive for the score. Bryant scored his fifth touchdown of the game, fourth receiving, on a 20-yard scoring reception with less than four minutes to play in the third quarter. Bryant caught the 2-point try to make the score 42-20.
Seneca needed just one play to answer back. WR Ethan Altic took a jet sweep handoff before heaving a deep ball to WR Blake Skelton for a 53-yard touchdown, with Marrs running in the 2-point try, to make the score 42-28 late in the third quarter.
The Indians’ defense came up with a big stop, forcing a turnover-on-downs, with a fourth-down-and-short stop in SHS territory to regain possession down two scores late in the third quarter.
Unfortunately, Seneca turned it over with a fumble at the end of a big play on second down of the ensuing drive to give the ball back to the Rebels at the CHS 30-yard line.
Seneca returned the favor after CB Eli Olson ripped the ball away from Bryant for a forced fumble to give the Indians possession with 10 minutes left in the game.
The Indians made the most of the turnover and cut the Rebels’ lead to one score when Marrs punched it in from 3 yards out to score his fourth touchdown of the game, trimming the deficit to 42-34 with 5:48 left in regulation.
Seneca forced a three-and-out with just 22 seconds coming off the clock before Central punted the ball down to the SHS 35.
The Indians picked up two first downs and Central was called for a 15-yard facemask penalty to get Seneca in plus territory. Facing fourth and 1 near the 30-yard line, Marrs took the handoff and was met in the backfield and fumbled to the Rebels for a turnover.
Central put the finishing touches on the win when Bryant broke loose for a 56-yard touchdown on a pitch play with 1:01 left in the game.
SEASON WRAP
Seneca, which last played in the state title game in 2013, finishes the season with a 13-1 record and graduates seniors Brian Bigbee, Gavyn Hoover, Blake Hurn, Elijah Olson, Morgan Vaughn, Treyton Castaneda, Marrs, Altic and Skelton.
FOR COMPLETE STATS, VISIT LINK BELOW:
MSHSAA 2023-2024 Class 3 11-Man Football State Tournament Matchup: Central (Park Hills) vs. Seneca
