BY CHARLES CHANEY

BURDEN, Kan.— Flinthills made the most of Central Burden’s mistakes and leaned on the all-around playmaking of Tripp Carney to secure a 26-20 win Friday night.

The win caps off a great start to the 2025 season as they start the year 1-0 for the second consecutive season. It’s the first time the Mustangs have opened back-to-back seasons with wins since 2006 and 2007.

The Mustangs didn’t waste any time striking first. On their third play from scrimmage, quarterback Kaleb Grunder executed a jet sweep handoff to Carney, who raced 41 yards down the sideline for the opening touchdown at the 10:45 mark of the first quarter. The conversion attempt failed, but Flinthills set the tone by showing its speed on the edge.

Central Burden answered late in the quarter. With just over a minute left, Isaiah Williams slashed through the middle of the Flinthills defense for a 25-yard score. The Raiders missed their two-point attempt, leaving the game tied at 6-all.

Momentum shifted in the second quarter when defensive pressure from Luke Jenkins forced Central Burden quarterback Treighton Hafenstein into a fumble. Carney scooped up the loose ball and dove into the end zone for a 1-yard defensive touchdown. Beau Hall added the two-point run for a 14-6 advantage.

On the next series, another Central Burden turnover gave the Mustangs prime field position. Hafenstein mishandled a pitch, and Mason Randall pounced on the ball at the Raider 24-yard line. Two plays later, Carney circled the defense untouched on an 11-yard end-around touchdown, his second trip to the end zone of the half. Flinthills built a 20-6 lead with 5:50 remaining before halftime.

Central Burden trimmed the deficit before the break on a defensive score of its own, recovering a botched snap by Flinthills in the end zone for a safety. The Mustangs carried a 20-8 lead into intermission.

Flinthills extended its cushion in the third quarter with a pair of clutch fourth-down plays. Facing fourth and long, Grunder lofted a pass toward Hunter Davis, who hauled in a 33-yard gain to keep the drive alive. On the next fourth down, Grunder rolled out and connected with Finley on a 13-yard touchdown strike at the 4:26 mark. That sequence gave the Mustangs their largest lead of the night, 26-8.

Following a long injury delay, Central Burden responded quickly. Williams found daylight up the middle and sprinted for a 20-yard touchdown run with 1:08 left in the third quarter, cutting the margin to 26-14. Flinthills appeared to answer immediately on the ensuing kickoff, but a long return for a touchdown was negated by a holding penalty.

The Raiders had their best chance to claw within one score midway through the fourth quarter. A Flinthills fumble set up Central Burden at the Mustangs’ 24-yard line, and Hafenstein powered all the way to the 1. But the ball was stripped just before he crossed the goal line, and Carney was once again there to recover in the end zone for a touchback.

Central Burden added a late touchdown with three seconds remaining when Hafenstein found Max Bergman for a short score, but the Raiders’ two-point attempt failed to seal the final margin.

Hall led Flinthills with 150 yards on 17 carries, punishing the Raiders between the tackles. Carney’s three touchdowns, rushing, receiving and defensive, highlighted a versatile night for the Junior. Grunder went 5-of-8 for 90 yards passing.

Williams carried the load for Central Burden with 161 rushing yards on 23 carries, while Hafenstein battled through pressure to throw for 65 yards and rush for 59.

The Mustangs improved to 1-0 on the season, while the Raiders fell short despite rolling up 240 yards on the ground. Flinthills will now return home for its opener against Cedar Vale/Dexter, which rolled past Udall, 54-0, on Friday night. CVD won last year’s meeting with the Mustangs, 53-6.

Flinthills 26, Central Burden 20

Flinthills 6 14 6 0 — 26
Central Burden 6 2 6 6 — 20

1Q 10:45 FHS: Carney 41 run (conversion failed)
1Q 1:08 CB: Williams 25 run (conversion failed)
2Q 8:58 FHS: Carney 1 fumble return (Hall run)
2Q 5:50 FHS: Carney 11 run (conversion failed)
2Q 1:10 CB: Safety
3Q 4:26 FHS: Finley 13 pass from Grunder (conversion failed)
3Q 1:08 CB: Williams 20 run (conversion failed)
4Q 0:03 CB: Bergman 10 pass from Hafenstein (conversion failed)

RUSHING — Flinthills: Hall 17-150, Finley 3-32, Carney 1-11, Grunder 5-(-27), TEAM 3-(-17). Totals 32-153. Central Burden: Williams 23-161, Hafenstein 21-59, Bergman 2-20. Totals 46-240.

PASSING — Flinthills: Grunder 5-8-0 90. Central Burden: Hafenstein 12-21-0 65; Henderson 0-1-0 0.

RECEIVING — Flinthills: Carney 1-41, Davis 2-32, Finley 2-17. Central Burden: Nellsch 6-32, Henderson 5-23, Bergman 1-10.