Olpe had never been behind all season. Heck, the Eagles hadn’t even played in a close game.
But after Matt Redeker threw an interception on the second play of the game on Friday at St. Marys, the Bears’ Brandon Tyler scored a touchdown to put the Eagles in unfamiliar territory.
Olpe waited until the fourth quarter to respond, and Matt Redeker connected with Cole Krueger for two 25-yard touchdowns. The two touchdown passes were good enough for a 14-7 Olpe win. Thanks in large part to the Olpe defense, the Eagles are going on to the state semifinals, where they will meet Pittsburg-Colgan.
“I can’t say enough about our defensive play,” coach Chris Schmidt said. “First half we were back on our heels and we would bend a little bit but wouldn’t break except for that one touchdown. ... They want to run the ball and to hold them to 155 yards, we did a heck of a job against the run, and that’s their game.”
The Eagles’ game is also the run, but St. Marys had the best defense the Eagles had seen all season and they held Olpe star running back Krueger in check. Actually, Olpe held itself in check with three first-half turnovers. After Redeker threw an interception on the first drive, the Eagles drove down the field on their second drive and then fumbled on the St. Marys 20-yard line. Olpe turned the ball over a third time before halftime.
The Bears did not turn the ball over until near the end of the second quarter, when Olpe’s Bradley Argabright intercepted Gatlin Jacobsen near midfield. Argabright returned the interception for a touchdown, but the TD was called back on a block in the back after the interception.
“The main thing at halftime we talked about was we were hurting ourselves as much as anything,” Schmidt said. “We knew going in this was by far the toughest matchup we’ve had all year. I think the kids had confidence that they were just as good they were. ... Even though we were behind, we knew we could play right with them and we just had to start making plays.”
In the fourth quarter, the Eagles’ strong defensive play finally sparked the offense. After stopping St. Marys on fourth and inches at the Olpe 20, the Eagles started to drive. The first play was a 12-yard reverse to Argabright. Josh Klumpe caught a 23-yard pass from Redeker on the next play to move the Eagles into Bears territory. Krueger tied the game with his first touchdown catch with 10 minutes, 36 seconds left in the game.
On the ensuing kickoff, the ball got caught in the wind and fell between St. Marys’ blockers and return men. Wade Schmidt jumped on the ball before St. Marys could get to it.
Three plays later, with Redeker back to pass, Krueger cut off an inside pass route and decided to run to the outside. Redeker saw what Krueger was doing and lofted a pass toward the corner of the end zone, and the Eagles took the lead.
Olpe’s defense finished the game by ending St. Marys’ final legitimate drive at the Olpe 30 on downs. St. Marys did get the ball back with a minute to go at its own 20-yard line, but Argabright intercepted his second pass to clinch the win.
“We made plays and we held onto the football in the second half,” Schmidt said. “Didn’t have the turnovers, and that was the difference in the game. We did a good job. And the kids responded like they have all year. They stepped to that challenge and rose to the occasion.”
Friday at St. Marys
Olpe (11-0) 0 0 0 14 — 14
St. Marys (10-2) 7 0 0 0 — 7
First quarter
SM — Tyler 13 run (kick good)
Fourth quarter
Olpe — Krueger 25 pass from Redeker (Krueger kick)
Olpe — Krueger 25 pass from Redeker (Krueger kick)
GAME STATISTICS
Olpe St. Marys
First downs 7 10
Rushing 30-100 54-155
Comp-Att-Int 4-9-1 5-15-2
Passing yards 93 64
Penalties-yards 3-25 3-25 Fumbles-lost 3-2 0-0
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing — Olpe: Krueger 14-55, Redeker 9-26, Schmidt 1-3, Lambert 3-0, Stueve 1-3, Argabright 1-12, Hubert 1-1; St. Marys: Tyler 29-95, Jacobsen 9-7, Decker 2-6, Olsen 4-37.
Passing — Olpe: Redeker 3-8-1 73, Krueger 1-1-0 20; St. Marys: Jacobsen 5-15-2 64.
Receiving — Olpe: Argabright 1-20, Klumpe 1-23, Krueger 2-50; St. Marys: Flerlage 1-18, Olsen 3-35, Schindler 1-11.
Comments
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Posted by mrdeeds15 (anonymous) on November 15, 2008 at 7:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Looks like everyone that voted for Madison in the poll was wrong! Olpe lives on, Madison goes home!
Posted by josiesbar (anonymous) on November 16, 2008 at 3:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think it would be neat if Madison played Olpe sometime... Ohh wait, that never worked out very well for Madison (when they did play 11-man), never mind...
Posted by create (anonymous) on November 16, 2008 at 12:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Now, now, Josie's bar.
Here's a quick Olpe memory from your favorite English teacher. Many years ago, on a crisp, bright Fall Friday morning, the day of the big rival game between the Eagles and the Bulldogs, we arrived at school to see the entire front lawn littered with whole, raw chickens freshly painted bright green. Oh how they loved to call us "Olpe Chickens." I believe we won that game that night although no one ever owned up to who delivered the chickens. What the prank did do was rev up the team for winning and win they did.
I remember when you were a member of that team, Matt. Yes, congratulations to our Eagles. Next week's game promises to be great. Go early for a parking space everyone. I remember when people would park their cars at the field in the morning and walk to the game later.
Go Eagles!!!
Posted by navywife (anonymous) on November 16, 2008 at 1:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
create...
Thanks for sparking my memories of high school days. Oh how I loved marching on that field, banging my drums for Eagle spirit.
admitted band geek,
navywife
Posted by create (anonymous) on November 16, 2008 at 5:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Good to see your name, navy wife. Yes, I remember how you did play your drums. I always loved it when the spirit was loud. I also remember your own husband playing in those games too. I have so many great memories of those Eagles, and being on the field to photograph the games for the yearbook put me right up close. In fact, I remember watching many a game through the lens of my camera. Go Eagles!
Posted by mrdeeds15 (anonymous) on November 16, 2008 at 7:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey create, are you coming to the game on Friday? I know that this senior class is one of the last classes that you taught.
Posted by hartford (anonymous) on November 17, 2008 at 12:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow! I learned a lot from the previous comments! I didn't realize I knew who "create" was until now! Awesome!!! My kids loved Olpe. We would still be there if it wasn't for a personal situation our family went through 2 years ago. My youngest is a Sophomore in Emporia now. I miss the gang he ran around with!!! Ahhh,,, the good ol' days! The best of luck to Olpe Eagles! GO EAGLES!!!!!
Oh, and create,,,,, I will never complain again when you correct my run on sentences! ;)
By the way, Brittany said to tell her favorite teacher "HELLO"
Posted by create (anonymous) on November 18, 2008 at 7:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You guys still bring tears to this old gal's eyes. I will try to make it to that game on Friday night. Yes indeed, mrdeeds, I do remember that these talented seniors were my last class of sophomores two years ago. Two years already?
One thing for certain, everytime I look at my diplomas hanging on the wall, I find it was worth every moment of hard work I put into college to get to teach those kids at Olpe.
Hello to Brittany. It was good to see her get to play BB for Emporia. Fast feet and Nelson training. Can't beat it.
Posted by mrdeeds15 (anonymous) on November 20, 2008 at 9:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well Create, if you do decide to come I am sure that I will see you there!
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