BY CHARLES CHANEY
UNIONTOWN, Kan.—Bluestem could have folded after a flat first half left the Lions staring at a 16-0 hole.
Instead, they clawed back with grit, turnovers and a punishing run game to stun Uniontown 30-24 on Friday night to open the season with a win.
Uniontown looked to be in firm control early. Quarterback Colter Powell finished off a second-quarter drive with a 1-yard plunge to make it 8-0. Moments later, the Tigers’ defense stuffed Bluestem on downs after an extended drive, keeping the Lions off the board. With just 23 seconds before halftime, Powell found Julius Rodriguez on a 20-yard strike to give Uniontown a commanding 16-0 lead at the break.
Bluestem’s response came as soon as the third quarter opened. On the first possession of the half, fullback Logan Squier took the dive and burst through the middle, racing untouched to the end zone for 61 yards. It was the kind of straight-ahead power run that brought back memories of former Bluestem star Colton Neal, and it finally put the Lions on the board. Shepherd followed with a keeper on the conversion to trim the deficit to 16-8.
The Bluestem defense then made its presence felt. Evan Worrell stepped in front of a Powell pass and returned the interception to midfield, energizing the Lions’ sideline. Axton Vice broke loose on a sweep down inside the 5, and Shepherd capped the short field with a 3-yard touchdown run. A fumbled conversion try left Bluestem trailing 16-14 with 3:43 left in the third.
Uniontown had an answer, grinding out a nine-play drive that ended with Owen Brown keeping around the left side for a touchdown. With 11:54 to play, the Tigers were back in front 24-14.
Bluestem was far from finished. On a third down, Vice broke free, shaking off an arm tackle and racing to the end zone with Shepherd throwing the key block downfield. Squier powered in the 2-point attempt, bringing the Lions within 24-22.
That’s when the game turned on a fluke play. Bluestem’s kicker mishit the ensuing kickoff, and the ball squirted sideways in the perfect spot for the Lions to fall on it. The surprise onside kick set them up near midfield, though they could not capitalize and were forced to punt.
The defense came through again. Shepherd intercepted Powell on a deep ball over the middle with under four minutes left, and an unsportsmanlike penalty on Uniontown tacked on more yardage. Bluestem suddenly had the ball inside Tiger territory. Facing a critical fourth-and-7, Uniontown jumped offsides, giving the Lions new life. Two plays later, Squier plunged in from the 3 for the go-ahead score with 1:43 remaining. Shepherd’s second interception of the night sealed the comeback.
Bluestem’s defense picked off three passes and gave up just one completion all night — the 20-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Meanwhile, the Lions rushed for 358 yards, led by Vice’s 178 and Squier’s 143.
Bluestem will now travel to Neodesha next week. The Blue Streaks opened their season by pummeling Cherryvale, 33-6. Last year, Neodesha beat Bluestem, 28-8. The Lions will be looking for their first win against Neodesha since 1999.
Bluestem 30, Uniontown 24
Bluestem 0 0 14 16 — 30
Uniontown 0 16 0 8 — 24
U — Powell 1 run (pass good)
U — Rodriguez 20 pass from Powell (run good)
B — Squier 61 run (Shepherd run)
B — Shepherd 3 run (run failed)
U — Brown run (run good)
B — Vice run (Squier run)
B — Squier 3 run (run failed)
RUSHING: Bluestem – Vice 16-178; Squier 15-143; Shepherd 11-33; Worrell 5-4. Totals: 47-358. Uniontown: Unavailable.
PASSING: Bluestem – Shepherd 1-1-0 4. Uniontown: Unavailable.
RECEIVING: Bluestem – Vice 1-4. Uniontown: Unavailable.
