<body><div>Only eight teams remain in each of the IHSA State Final football brackets and the Triad Knights are no longer one of them. Their matchup with the Morton Potters on Saturday, Nov. 7 proved to be too tall a task, as they were thrown into the kiln of a lopsided game.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3xHCwK_1GuyANJd00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3xHCwK_1GuyANJd00" width="1200" height="800" ><figcaption>Captains and coaches for both teams meet at midfield for the pregame coin toss. (Ray Popkess photo)</figcaption></figure>Triad surrendered a touchdown on the opening kickoff to the Potters for a 100-yard return. Two broken tackles were all it took for the returner, who used their blazing speed to outrun the rest of the tacklers. A successful two-point conversion made the score 8-0 just 14 seconds into the game.The Knights answered back on the following drive with a solid mix of run and pass. Jayden Rodgers put Triad on the board with their first score on a catch-and-run, 29-yard screen pass from Brody Hasquin. Brock Becker’s extra point made it 8-7.After trotting out their offense for the first time with 9:15 in the first quarter, the Potters scored again with a big play: a 59-yard quick pass to their six-foot receiver, who did most of the work for the touchdown. A second two-point conversion made it 16-7 in favor of Morton.Triad would not score again until the final seconds of the first half. Meanwhile, the Potters’ defense complemented their offense by shutting down the Knights drive after drive.Morton scored again just before the end of the first quarter after putting a long drive together. A penalty on a two-point attempt forced them to kick their first extra point, but it was wide left, yielding a score of 22-7.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1RI0nc_1GuyANJd00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1RI0nc_1GuyANJd00" width="1200" height="800" ><figcaption>Jayden Rodgers broke a couple of tackles before scoring Triads first touchdown in the first quarter. (Ray Popkess photo)</figcaption></figure>The Potters made it 28-7 halfway through the second quarter after another long, methodical drive. They failed their two-point attempt at this go-around.Triad needed to avoid punting to find a way back into the game, forcing them to go for a fourth down in their own territory on their next offensive drive. Their attempt was short of the sticks, giving the Potters possession in plus territory and prime position to score.Morton made it 35-7 on a screen pass with just over four minutes left in the first half. On the next Triad drive, the Potters intercepted a deep pass intended for Keegan Seipp near midfield and returned their takeaway all the way back to the Triad five-yard line. They scored again one play later, making it 42-7.With less than a minute left in the second quarter, Triad was forced to go for it again on fourth and 10. An incomplete pass gave possession back to the Potters, who used their timeouts on their offensive drive to find the endzone once more before the break.Triad showed a pulse just before heading to the locker room. They put together a long drive in 23 seconds that culminated in Keegan Seipp catching an over-the-shoulder pass from Hasquin at the goalline. A trick play on their two-point attempt made the halftime score 49-15.To start the second half, the Knights took possession and drove the ball inside the Potter five-yard line, showing life. Morton’s defense stood tall, however, and sacked Hasquin on fourth down and five to end the potential comeback.The Knights’ defense made their first stop of the game by forcing the Potters to punt after a three-and-out on the next possession, but it was too little, too late.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3HsY2C_1GuyANJd00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3HsY2C_1GuyANJd00" width="1016" height="1200" ><figcaption>Dayton Deatherage sacks the Morton quarterback on a drive near the goal line. (Ray Popkess photo)</figcaption></figure>Morton picked up another fourth-down sack on the subsequent drive, giving them the ball at midfield and leading to another touchdown drive late in the third quarter. By now, they’d earned a running clock against the Knights with a score of 56-15.With the clock working against them, Triad subbed in their younger players to give them some playoff experience.The fourth quarter flew by, as did the remainder of such a tremendous season for the Triad Knights. They tied the program record for the most wins in a single season by any team, garnering themselves alongside the five other teams to amass nine total wins.Triad Football is now 27-14 in four years under Head Coach Calvin Potthast, who continues to build on the best start by any head coach in program history. The Knights are now nine wins away from earning 300 as a program in their 59-year history.</div></body>

Block Source: timestribunenews.com

Misinformation

Clickbait

Old or repetitive news

Explicit content

Location not relevant

Only eight teams remain in each of the IHSA State Final football brackets and the Triad Knights are no longer one of them. Their matchup with the Morton Potters on Saturday, Nov. 7 proved to be too tall a task, as they were thrown into the kiln of a lopsided game.

Potters throw everything at Knights in second round

NewsBreak

Only eight teams remain in each of the IHSA State Final football brackets and the Triad Knights are no longer one of them. Their matchup with the Morton Po

Potters throw everything at Knights in second round

Comments