HUTCHINSON -- Nobody will say Andale’s offensive schemes are similar to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Yes, Andale runs the ball without regard. The Indians have long been built on their ability to pound opponents into submission by running the ball.

But it’s also unfair, and inaccurate, to say that Andale doesn’t throw the ball much. Headed into Saturday’s Class 3A state championship game against Holton at Gowans Stadium, Andale had amassed more than 1,000 yards through the air.

Andale continued with its underrated passing attack, and thanks in part to quarterback Wyatt Spexarth’s 142 yards, completing 7 of 12 attempts, Andale cruised to its fourth straight Class 3A title with a dominating 28-0 win against Holton.

“It starts with the offensive line. I got sacked just three times all season,” said Spexarth, who took the blame for the one time he was sacked Saturday. “We've got some good athletes out here, some good receivers, and they had some good catches today.”

Andale opened the game with a typical touchdown drive -- 13 plays, 80 yards, taking up 7 minutes and 14 seconds. But the Indians don’t score without a pair of well-executed pass plays.

First, on first-and-10 from the Holton 49-yard line, Spexarth fired a 27-yard pass to Cody Parthemer. And then, on fourth-and-goal from the 16, Spexarth went right, threw the ball back across the field to Riley Marx, who caught the ball and bulldozed through two Holton defenders inside the 5-yard line on his way to the end zone.

 

“That was a big game changer,” said Parthemer, who had a second-quarter touchdown run, and a two-point conversion run. “Fourth and 16 and Coach drew up a great play, and we executed it.”

Spexarth and Parthemer connected on Andale’s third drive for a 40-yard pass, leading to Spexarth’s 1-yard touchdown run. Spexarth also had a crucial 13-yard completion to Nathan Bruce on a third-and-9 play on Andale’s first second-half drive. That drive didn’t result in points, but it chewed up more than 9 minutes.

“Wyatt has done a heck of a job for us,” said Andale coach Dylan Schmidt, who has led Andale to a remarkable 74-2 record in his six seasons. “He knows the receivers can go up and get it. We don’t run the spread offense or anything, but we have a lot of playmakers.”

Andale’s defense was just as impressive. Although Holton moved the ball twice inside the Andale 15 and another time to the Andale 35, the Wildcats came up empty.

Holton’s wishbone offense mustered just six first downs and 161 yards. Running back Garyson Booth, who came into the game with 1,667 yards and averaging 13.6 yards a carry, was held to just 22 yards on 11 carries.
 

Holton coach Brooks Barta has seen his share of top teams during his playing and coaching days, whether at Smith Center with his dad Roger Barta, or in leading Holton to state titles in 2003, 2005 and 2012. He said this Andale team and program are as dominant as he’s seen.

“They’re up there with all of them,” Barta said. “We’ve had some great teams in 4A, and we’ve had some teams play against some great teams too. They made some great plays, some big plays, today in the passing game.”

Andale, leading 8-0 after one quarter, pushed the lead to 22-0 at halftime after getting a pair of 1-yard touchdown runs from Spexarth and Parthemer.

Owen Eck’s 11-yard touchdown run in the final minute was the final score and sealed Andale’s 51st straight victory and fourth straight state title.

With just 13 seniors, there’s no telling how long this dynasty will go. Andale hasn’t lost a game since 2018 or a regular-season game since 2016.

Schmidt certainly doesn’t want to speculate on anything but the present, and that’s another state title won, with more work to do if Andale is to win another in 2023..

“We’ll get them into winter sports and spring sports, and if they don’t do that, we’ll get them in the weight room,” Schmidt said. “We’ll show up in the summer and work out. It’s a grind, and not everyone likes that. But everyone has to be a part of that, the coaches and the players.”

 

CLASS 3A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

ANDALE 28, HOLTON 0

Holton (11-2) ... 0 ... 0 ... 0 ... 0 ... -- ... 0

Andale (13-0) ... 8 ... 14 ... 0 ... 6 ... -- ... 28

Andale -- Riley Marx 16 pass from Wyatt Spexarth (Cody Parthemer run)

Andale -- Spexarth 1 run (Marlo Sullivan kick)

Andale -- Parthemer 1 run (Sullivan kick)

Andale -- Owen Eck 11 run (kick failed)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING -- Holton: Lierz 6-59, Fletcher 7-33, Booth 11-22, Boswell 5-14. Andale: Eck 13-70, Prosser 15-64, Marx 8-63, Parthemer 11-33, Spexarth 8-16, Meyer 2-7.

PASSING -- Holton: Lierz 1-3-1 33. Andale: Spexarth 7-12-0 142.

RECEIVING -- Holton: Fletcher 1-33. Andale: Parthemer 2-67, Eck 1-32, Marx 1-16, Bruce 1-13, Butts 1-11, Eck 1-3