Maconaquah Schools

Maconaquah's junior varsity came from behind in the final minute to open its season with a 34-28 win over Wabash. In a game that saw a little bit of everything, Mac's defense rose to the occasion in the last 90 seconds and pinned Wabash at its own one-yard line after three straight Apache negative yardage plays. Brave freshman Tre Rader scooped up the Apache punt on the run at the Wabash 42 and darted in for the game-winning score. With under a minute to play, Wabash had two more possessions. Mac's Tru Brown snuffed out the Apaches first drive with a 31-yard interception return and Alexzander Martin sealed the deal with a game-ending sack on the final play of the game. After a scoreless first quarter, the final 30 minutes provided plenty of fireworks. as both teams combined for 62 points. Wabash did all of its damage in the air as the visitors finished with 335 yards passing. The Apaches finished with -81 yards on the ground, coughing up the pigskin eight times during the game. Mac had six fumbles. The Braves, meanwhile, used a balanced attack to stymie Wabash. Frosh quarterback Brayden Stamper completed 10 of 20 passes, with TD strikes to Brown (44 yards), Kacen Toepfer (61 yards) and Rader (41 yards). Toepfer put MHS on the scoreboard first with a 16-yard TD run with 5:39 left in the second quarter and led all rushers with 59 yards on 13 carries. Blane Scarlett added 35 yards to the ground attack on seven rushes. Both teams scored twice in the last 127 seconds of the second period, with Stamper's 61-yard bomb to Toepfer at the :09 mark putting the Braves on top at intermission, 20-14. The third quarter opened with Mac being forced to punt. Martin's big hit forced a fumble on the Apache return and Toepfer recovered the loose ball. It took only one play for the Braves to strike and take a 26-14 lead when Stamper connected with Rader on the 41-yard TD toss. Wabash scored with :33 showing in the third quarter and took its final lead at 28-26 with 6:13 left in the game, before the never-say-die Braves rallied and escaped with the win.