GREENSBURG – No matter the circumstances, South Central’s ability to adapt has been the driving force for the Timberwolves all season. 

Even when it appeared to be smooth sailing for unbeaten South Central, the program tackled a few challenges behind the scenes. 

The Timberwolves’ adaptability was on full display in the Eight-Player Division I title game, as South Central navigated through gnarly wind conditions to complete a perfect season with a 34-8 win over Lincoln on Saturday at Kiowa County High School. 

“They showed up out here in terrible conditions,” South Central coach Brett Westrup said. “We've had to fight some adversity this year. We lost two starters the second week of the year to season-ending injuries. We lost some kids for a while to sickness. And then we had to come out today and fight in the wind. 

“I’m so proud of the team. That was a great, great team win.”

South Central (12-0) had relied on a balanced offensive attack that had produced over 1,500 passing yards, but the wind Saturday made passing a risky proposition in either direction. 

Instead, the Timberwolves kept pounding away with running back Coda Lindsay and quarterback Easton Huck, with the duo combining for 289 rushing yards. 

Lindsay was the main catalyst with 178 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries while Huck added 111 yards and a TD on 28 carries. The Timberwolves attempted just one pass.

“We knew today you weren’t going to be able to throw the ball,” Westrup said. “It was really just going to be a run game. As cold as it was, we knew we couldn’t sit there and just pound Easton like we sometimes like to do, and Coda stepped up big. He wouldn’t go down. 

“There were multiple times he’d break the first tackle and the third tackle and be dragging guys. He ran the ball well, but he couldn’t do it without a really good offensive line and I’m proud of the way they blocked.”

Lindsay agreed. 

“My blockers made it perfect,” Lindsay said. “They were able to set it up, and I knew going in they were going to do it.”

Lindsay also had a hand in one of the game’s biggest plays in the closing moments of the first half. 

After Lincoln stopped South Central on a fourth-and-goal, the Leopards couldn’t move the chains and were forced to punt from their own end zone. Lindsay broke through and blocked the punt, and Colt Yoder recovered it in the end zone to help give South Central a 22-8 halftime lead. 

“I was mad (after Lincoln's goal-line stand),” Lindsay said. “I was pushing through and stuck a hand up and prayed that it got blocked.”
 

Lindsay helped the Timberwolves put it away with touchdown runs of 46 and 9 yards in the second half. 

Lincoln’s potent aerial attack was neutralized by the conditions. The Leopards, who entered the game with nearly 2,200 yards through the air, completed just 3 of 14 passes for 34 yards with an interception. Lincoln finished with 135 rushing yards on 46 carries, led by 85 yards and a touchdown from quarterback Jeremiah Miller. 

“You look at the forecast ahead of the game and you come up with a game plan,” Lincoln coach Colby Hamel said. “We knew that we needed to go run the football, and they just ran the football better than we did today. With the elements, it's tough to throw, and that's something that we're really good at. 

“It's part of football, part of life. Sometimes in life you get things thrown at you that you don't anticipate and you have to bounce back. You gotta figure out a way to make things happen, and our guys didn't give up. I'm super proud.”

It was a somber end to the game after a scary injury incident involving Lincoln standout receiver Xavier Miller, who landed awkwardly on his head after a kick return in the fourth quarter. Miller received medical attention for several minutes and was loaded onto a stretcher and transported to the hospital out of caution. Fortunately, Hamel said after the game he believed Miller had suffered only a bad shoulder stinger and avoided serious injury. 

Lincoln ended its remarkable run with an 11-2 record, notching its four playoff victories in program history. The Leopards will be primed for another strong year next year with the Miller brothers and fellow standout Ben Bell only juniors this season.

“It’s a special group,” Hamel said. “You can't be disappointed as a coach. These guys have worked hard in the summer and shown up every day in practice. Great kids, great community. It's not the way you want to end, but to win your first four playoff games and then play in the state championship, there’s nothing to be discouraged about at all.”

South Central has just five seniors on its roster, led by standout linebacker Jack Herd. The other seniors are Tyler Pauly, Boston Woodrum, Michael Jordahl and Jayden Boatman.

It is the first state championship for South Central, which was formed in 1999 after the consolidation of Protection and Coldwater. Coldwater won Eight-Man Division I titles in 1985, 1994 and 1995 and Protection won a 1A state title in 1978 and an Eight-Man Division II title in 1983. 

“At the start of the season, (Westrup) said we were going to bring the community together and I feel like we’ve done that today,” Lindsay said. 

“This is huge,” Westrup said. “It’s just a blessing to be a part of this team and this community.”
 

 

 

 

SOUTH CENTRAL 34, LINCOLN 8 

Lincoln … 0 … 8 … 0 … 0 … – … 8

South Central … 14 … 8 … 6 … 6 … – … 34

South Central – Huck 2 run (Huck run)

South Central – Lindsay 4 run (run failed) 

Lincoln – J. Miller 14 run (Bell pass from J. Miller)

South Central – Yoder blocked punt recovery (Lindsay pass from Huck)

South Central – Lindsay 46 run (run failed) 

South Central – Lindsay 9 run (Lindsay run)

TEAM STATISTICS 

… LI … SC 

Rushes-yards … 46-135 … 51-313 
Passing yards … 34 … 0 
Passing (Comp-Att-Int) … 3-14-1 … 0-1-0 
Total plays-yards … 60-169 … 52-313 

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS 

Rushing – Lincoln: J. Miller 34-85, Bell 10-46, X. Miller 1-6, C. Meyer 1-(minus) 2; South Central: Lindsay 18-178, Huck 28-111, Herd 3-13, Yoder 2-11. 

Passing – Lincoln: J. Miller 3-14-1 34 yards; South Central: Huck 0-1-0, 0 yards. 

Receiving – Lincoln: X. Miller 2-18, Bell 1-16; South Central: None.