<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3SfrLf_1GyqSOvm00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3SfrLf_1GyqSOvm00" width="1140" height="878" ><figcaption>Freshman Charlie Shaw (2) runs through three Sutton tacklers, including Juan Reyes (9), Connor Hinrichs (2), and Tristan Griess, right, en route to a fourth-quarter, 44-yard touchdown run during the Cougars’ 62-28 quarterfinal win over Sutton. Shaw finished as Sandy Creek’s leading ground gainer, running for 122 yards on 11 carries, an average of 11.1 yards per carry. LILY GRIESS | CLAY COUNTY NEWS</figcaption></figure>Sandy Creek advances to D-1 semifinals for 4th straight season with win over Clay County rival MustangsThe Sandy Creek Cougars moved their 2026 season record to 10-1 Friday, Nov. 6, by taking down their in-county rivals, the Sutton Mustangs 62-28 in the quarterfinal round of the Class D-1 state football playoffs.The win sets up the Cougars with a familiar opponent for their fourth straight semifinal round battle in as many years, the unbeaten Stanton Mustangs as Stanton will bring their 11-0 record to Sandy Creek High School this Friday night, Nov. 13, for the third-ever meeting between the two teams, kicking off at 6 p.m. on “The Hill.”Stanton upended the Cougars in the semifinal round of 2023, 48-36, before the Cougars gained a little revenge in 2024, beating the Mustangs 44-42 for Sandy Creek’s first-ever state football championship.Friday night’s win over Sutton marked the second time Sandy Creek had taken down Sutton, as the two battled it out in Sutton to open the 2026 season, with the Cougars claiming a 42-20 win back on Friday, Aug. 28.This go-round, after Sandy Creek had reeled off eight straight wins and Sutton claimed five straight leading into the quarterfinal clash, the Cougars, despite fighting some injuries, yet again used a well-balanced offensive attack, passing for 263 total yards and running the ball for another 16 yards to power their way past Sutton 62-28.After claiming the early lead of 16-0 after one quarter of play, Sandy Creek blistered the Sutton defense 40-6 in the second quarter to claim a 56-6 halftime lead.Wyatt Livgren opened the games scoring in the first with a 20-yard run into the end zone, with Kamerin Sealey hitting Wyatt Hemberger for the two-point conversion with 11:16 left in the first to give the Cougars an 8-0 lead.Livgren also scored Sandy Creek’s second touchdown of the game with 3:51 left in the first, with Sealey adding the conversion for the 16-0 lead.Sandy Creek then scored four straight times in the second quarter, starting with a 25-yard pass from Sealey to Hemberger just six seconds into the second frame. Livgren added the conversion for a 24-0 Cougar lead.Sealey and Livgren then scored on a 14-yard pass play into the end zone with 8:06 to play in the first half. Sealey and Wes Biltoft connected for the conversion and a 32-0 Sandy Creek lead.The longest scoring play of the game by both teams followed, as Sealey and Alex Watts connected on a 58-yard pass into the endzone with 6:41 showing on the second-quarter clock. Charlie Shaw ran in the two-point conversion, giving the Cougars a 40-0 lead.Sealey and Logan Tomky then connected for a 21-yard pass into the end zone with 2:01 to play in the half. Charlie Shaw again added the conversion for a 48-0 lead.Sutton’s lone first-half score was a 32-yard scoring pass from Mason Ehly to Connor Hinrichs with 43 seconds left. A missed conversion left Sandy Creek with a 48-6 lead.Sandy Creek wasn’t quite done scoring in the first half, as Sealey and Biltoft connected on a 14-yard pass into the end zone with 17 seconds left to play. Charlie Shaw again ran in the conversion to give Sandy Creek a 56-6 halftime lead.In the second half, Sutton recorded the first three scores, opening with the lone score of the third quarter, as Hinrichs hit pay dirt with 3:39 to play. Hinrichs then hit Aydin Banta for the two-point conversion, setting the game at a 56-14 Cougar lead.In the fourth quarter, Hinrichs scored on runs of 36 yards and 47 yards. DJ Hajny scored the conversion after Hinrichs’ first score of the quarter, as Sutton cut the Cougar lead to 56-28 with just over 11 minutes to go in the final quarter.Charlie Shaw sealed the big win for Sandy Creek with a 44-yard run into the end zone with 5:37 left in the game, setting the final at 62-28.Sutton closed out their season with an 8-3 record, with the 10-1 Cougars moving on to the semifinal round against Stanton.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0xzfkt_1GyqSOvm00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0xzfkt_1GyqSOvm00" width="1259" height="662" ><figcaption>Sutton senior Connor Hinrichs is tripped up by Sandy Creek’s Alex Watts during action in the D-1 state quarterfinals between the two Clay County rivals. Watts had 10 tackles in the game, while Hinrichs ran for 175 yards on 23 carries. Also pictured are Aaron Sanchez of Sutton (60) and Brayden Griess (49) for the Mustangs, while Josh Spray (72) and Kipton Williamson move in on the play for Sandy Creek. LILY GRIESS | CLAY COUNTY NEWS</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0OGKsX_1GyqSOvm00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0OGKsX_1GyqSOvm00" width="1250" height="1011" ><figcaption>Sandy Creek senior Wes Biltoft narrowly missed blocking this punt by Sutton’s Mason Ehly in action Friday, Nov. 6. The D-1 quarterfinal game produced a 34-point win for the Cougars, as they move on to the semifinals for the fourth straight season. Sandy Creek will host the Stanton Mustangs this Friday night, Nov. 13 at 6 p.m. Sutton’s Aydin Banta is blocking Biltoft during the play. LILY GRIESS | CLAY COUNTY NEWS</figcaption></figure>BYTHE NUMBERSCharlie Shaw led the Cougars rushing attack with 122 yards on just 11 carries, an average of 11.1 yards per carry. Hinrichs led the game’s rushing total with 175 yards on 23 carries, an average of 7.6 yards per carry.Hinrichs finished the year with 2,195 yards on the ground on 271 carries, an average of just under 200 yards per game. Hinrichs finished his high school career with 3,149 rushing yards on 375 carries.Sandy Creek’s rushing attack was rounded out by Livgren with 81 yards on just seven carries. Owen Spray finished with six yards on four carries, while Brockett Reed had four yards and Sealey had three.Sutton’s ground game was wrapped up by Ehly with nine yards, Harrison Schurman with six, Rexx Meyer with four, and Hajny with three.Through the air, Sandy Creek was 19-25 for 263 yards. Sealey was 19-24 on the night, while Reed was 0-1.Receiving was led by Alex Watts, who made four catches for 88 yards. Biltoft hauled in five passes for 56 yards, Livgren grabbed three passes for 42 yards, Hemberger made four catches for 40 yards, while Tomky made three catches for 37 yards.All five Cougar receivers scored one time in the 34-point victory.DEFENSIVE LEADERSDefensive leaders proved to be Josh Spray and Alex Watts for the Cougars, while Sutton’s leaders were Juan Reyes and Hinrichs.Spray made 11 tackles, and Watts 10, while for Sutton, Reyes gained 18 tackles and Hinrichs, 16.Rounding out the Cougars’ defensive leaders, Jackson Gerdes, Christian Shaw, and Owen Spray all had seven tackles, while Biltoft, Hemberger and Luke Soucie finished with six tackles each, with Colson Spilker ending the game with five stops.Josh Spray also had two quarterback sacks in the game.Sutton’s defensive charts were rounded out by Max Huxoll with seven, Ian Spearman with five, Creighton Jones with four, and Tristan Griess with three.Score by QuartersSandy Creek...........................16 40 0 6 -62 Sutton.................................... 0 6 8 14 -28 SC Sutton Rush Att-Yds.......................25-216 35-197 Pass Comp-Att-Yds.......... 19-25-263 5-8-56 Total Offense........................ 479 253<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1CHU2r_1GyqSOvm00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1CHU2r_1GyqSOvm00" width="2549" height="859" ><figcaption>The Sandy Creek Cougars and Sutton Mustangs came together following their D-1 quarterfinal playoff game for a little team unity and a prayer following the Cougars’ 62-28 win. Sandy Creek moves on to the semifinals, where they will host Stanton, while Sutton’s season comes to a close with the loss leaving Sutton with an 8-3 final record. LILY GRIESS | CLAY COUNTY NEWS</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0iGZj9_1GyqSOvm00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0iGZj9_1GyqSOvm00" width="1275" height="802" ><figcaption>Sandy Creek quarterback Kamerin Sealey looks downfield for an open receiver while Jackson Gerdes and Christian Shaw block Sutton’s Aaron Sanchez. Sealey threw for 263 yards to five different receivers and five touchdowns. LILY GRIESS | CLAY COUNTY NEWS</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1Ae6fx_1GyqSOvm00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1Ae6fx_1GyqSOvm00" width="1599" height="995" ><figcaption>Sutton sophomore Harrison Schurman (21) tries to add yardage to this run against Sandy Creek, as Cooper Shaw (49) and Hadley Schoneberg (82), along with Wyatt Hemberger, bring down Schurman during the play. LILY GRIESS | CLAY COUNTY NEWS</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=31VMQl_1GyqSOvm00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=31VMQl_1GyqSOvm00" width="1071" height="1039" ><figcaption>Sandy Creek defensive linemen Jackson Gerdes (44), and Christian Shaw (55) battle with Sutton’s offensive players Griffin Bergen (25), and Aaron Sanchez (60) as Mustangs running back, Hinrichs (2), attempts one of his two passes during the D-1 quarterfinal round playoff game at Sandy Creek Nov. 6 LILY GRIESS | CLAY COUNTY NEWS</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1GnKK2_1GyqSOvm00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1GnKK2_1GyqSOvm00" width="1604" height="1216" ><figcaption>Sutton’s offensive line battles with Sandy Creek’s defensive line during this play in the D-1 quarterfinal battle between the two Clay County rivals. Sandy Creek improved to 10-1 with a 62-28 win, leaving Sutton with a season-ending 8-3 record. LILY GRIESS | CLAY COUNTY NEWS</figcaption></figure></div></body>

Block Source: theclaycountynews.com

Misinformation

Clickbait

Old or repetitive news

Explicit content

Location not relevant

Sandy Creek advances to D-1 semifinals for 4th straight season with win over Clay County rival Mustangs. The Sandy Creek Cougars moved their 2026 season record to 10-1 Friday, Nov. 6, by taking down their in-county rivals, the Sutton Mustangs 62-28 in the quarterfinal round of the Class D-1 state football playoffs.

Cougars clip Sutton 62-28 in quarterfinals

NewsBreak

Sandy Creek advances to D-1 semifinals for 4th straight season with win over Clay County rival Mustangs. The Sandy Creek Cougars moved their 2026 season re

Cougars clip Sutton 62-28 in quarterfinals

Comments