The Winnetonka Griffins could not defend their home turf as they were defeated by the Smithville Warriors 38-14. The Warriors senior quarterback Spencer Miller had a hand in all five of his team’s touchdowns.
Before the game, Warriors head coach Jason Ambroson talked about his team, “We had a good week of practice after our first loss of the season, but it was a strange week. We had a player get hurt in the weight room, and another got hurt while we were stretching, so it’s the next man up.”
When asked about Miller, Ambroson said his quarterback, “He is a dynamic player, he is versatile in both throwing and running.”
The Warriors got on the board first when Evan Verhulst hit a 35-yard field goal.
Winnetonka took the lead when Montre Moore took a handoff and ran 5 yards to pay dirt. Lauchlin Ferris made the P.A.T. making the score 7-3.
The Warriors scored twice more before the half. Miller faked a handoff to the left and rolled right hitting a wide-open Sam Calvert for a 5-yard score.
Right before the halftime, Miller scored on a 6-yard run Verhulst made both kicks and the teams went to the break, 17-7, Warriors.
The Warriors took the second half kick and quickly moved down the field, with the final 15 yards, coming through the air as Miller connected with George Fisher. The kick made the score 24-7.
Winnetonka special teams recovered a muffed punt, and finished the drive when Jovan Satterwhite took a shotgun snap and ran for 1-yard touchdown run. Ferris converted the kick making the score 24-14.
The next two scores were Miller runs. The first score was a 5-yard run, the point after was blocked. The next score was the play of the game. Miller serpentined the entire field, starting and stopping twice, changing directions, and finally crossed the goal line 52 yards later. Miller also completed the two-point pass to Gunnar Swindall, for the final score of the game.
After the game, Miller did his best to describe the run, “I thought I was going to be tackled a couple of times. My teammates just kept working, and blocking, and I just kept moving towards the open area.”
Ambroson, praised his quarterback, after the game, “I told you before the game he is dynamic. We don’t throw it often, but if team are going to load the box, we will throw. Our schedule is loaded with too many good teams for us to be one dimensional.”
The Griffins record drops to 4-3, and they will be on the road next week at Platte County.
Smithville improves to 6-1, and then will host Grandview.
