The Blaine County Journal News-Opinion - We've Got The County Covered

The Chinook Sugarbeeters completed what can only be described as a successful season this past weekend with a hard-fought 14-12 come-from-behind victory over the Chester-Joplin-Inverness Hawks to finish the season with a 4-4 record.

The strides this team made during the season are impressive and a testament to their hard work and coaching staff as a team.

What began as a team with relatively no varsity experience grew up fast and learned how to compete in posting a .500 record.

Friday's contest in Chester was very similar to the one played the second weekend of the season in Chinook.

In the first meeting between the two teams it was a Sugarbeeters making a fantastic defensive play in the closing minutes to secure an 18-16 win, their first of the season.

The season finale included a little bit of everything, including a whole lot of defense, some spectacular offense and some timely stretches of completely solid football.

The first quarter was dominated by the Hawks offense with the entire game being played on the 'Beeter side of the 40 yard line. That being said the score at the end of that opening quarter was 0-0 as the 'Beeter defense would bend but not break.

That did change on the second play from scrimmage in the second quarter as the Hawks finally were able to break through and score the opening points putting six on the scoreboard for a 6-0 Hawk lead.

With time winding down in the second quarter and the Hawks again penetrating deep inside of a 'Beeter territory, the defense held strong and forced a turnover on downs when Junior Karson Powell was able to meet the Hawk receiver at the point of the catch and drive him back, keeping him short of the line to gain and giving Chinook back the ball.

The 'Beeters would then make one of the most impressive offensive drives of the season to close out the first half.

It began innocently enough with a 4-yard run from junior Chase Moxley. Junior quarterback Trajan

Hannum then made good work with his feet scrambling away from the defense and finding Powell right before crossing the line of scrimmage for a 15-yard gain to keep the drive alive.

Hannum then gained 9 yards on the following play from scrimmage and Moxley followed that with a 13-yard gain to the Hawk 28-yard line.

On 3rd and four Powell put together a solid effort and picking up just enough yards to secure a first and goal situation for the 'Beeters inside the 10 yard line.

After the 'Beeters called a timeout with :55 seconds showing on the game clock Hannum threw a perfect strike to the end zone we're an even better catch was made by Junior Brendan Edwards.

Edwards jumped high with two defenders draped all over him to haul in a 10-yard scoring strike.

Hannum ran in the two-point conversion and Chinook held and 8-6 lead going into halftime.

Defense was again the name of the game in the second half and with the Hawks again in 'Beeter territory facing a fourth down situation it was Powell stopping the runner in his tracks to give the offense back the ball.

Chinook found themselves in a fourth down situation of their own moments lated when Hannum again kept the play alive with some nifty footwork and then found Powell for a 30 yard scoring strike to give Chinook the lead 14-12.

The Hawks, relentless on offense again moved down the field and this time were able to punch it in for a touchdown. The 'Beeter defense would have some say as sophomore JT Hauer intercepted the conversion attempt keeping the 'Beeters lead in tack.

After a 'Beeter punt the Hawks took over with 6:09 left in the contest.

The Hawks moved the ball on the ground, controlled the clock and seemed to have all the momentum on their side when Powell again came up with a huge defensive play, taking the ball from the Hawk runningback to give Chinook back the ball.

Three minutes remained in the contest and the 'Beeters would need to pick up a couple first downs to run the clock out and keep the Hawk offense off the field.

Sophomore Sam Dumas picked up the first with a six yard run but soon the 'Beeters faced a 3rd and 11 with 1:08 left on the Clock.

Following a Hawk timeout Hannum went to the air finding Powell again with a perfect strike to secure the win 14-12 and even the 'Beeters record at 4-4.

(4-4) Chinook 14 (2-6) Chester-J-I 12

Chinook 0 8 6 0 – 14

Junior Trajan Hannum looks to run the offense in the 'Beeters season finale.

Chester-J-I 0 6 0 6 – 12

1st Quarter

No Scoring2nd Quarter

Chester-J-I: Jackson Diemert 4 run (pass failed)

Chinook: Brenden Edwards 10 yardpass from Trajan Hannum

(Hannum run)

3rd Quarter

Chinook: Karson Powell 30 pass from Hannum (pass failed)

4th Quarter

Chester-J-I: Jackson Diemert 3 Yard run (pass failed)