Leyton comes up short in playoffs

OSHKOSH – As Garden County High players celebrated their victory at the opposite end of the field, Leyton coach Glen Lipska stood in the north end zone, surrounded by his players and Warrior supporters.

In a low voice, he praised his team's effort despite the 74-32 loss in the first round of the Class D-2 eight-man state playoffs.

He asked his senior players, who had just competed in their final high school football game, to lead the team in a cheer.

And then, under the bright lights and with the stands nearly empty, coaches and parents patted the players on the back as they made their way to the locker room.

The final score didn't tell the whole story, said Lipska, whose team – as a No. 15 seed – had scored the first touchdown of the game and ended the first half down by just 12 points.

"I thought we played well," he said. "These kids came out ready in the first half, and I think scoring on that first drive, we said, 'Hey, we can play.' "

With 8:18 to go in the first quarter, Leyton's Rhett Dye connected on a 24-yard pass to Morley Haley to put the first points on the scoreboard.

But the No. 2-seeded Eagles quickly responded, finding the end zone twice.

During the second quarter, the Warriors scored three touchdowns – a short run by Kordell Maestas, a 41-yard run by Dye and then a 5-yard pass to Zach Hellie. Each of Letyon's scores, however, was answered by a Garden County touchdown.

"Not a lot of people expected us to win," Dye said. "And coming out – it was 38-26 at the half – I was really proud."

Garden County opened the second half with four unanswered touchdowns before Leyton's Kort Dye recovered a fumble and returned it for a touchdown with less than a minute remaining in the third period.

The only score posted in the fourth quarter added to Garden County's growing lead. The Eagles outscored Leyton 36-6 in the second half.

Garden County is undefeated through nine games this season. In a matchup earlier this month, the Eagles defeated Leyton, 74-32. The Warriors finished the season with a 3-6 record.

During Thursday's rematch, Lipska said his team struggled on defense to contain Garden County's ground game.

Two Eagle players each ran for more than 200 yards and combined for seven rushing TDs.

"But for the most part, I'm happy with what we accomplished," he said. "In my eyes, the scoreboard doesn't show all the aspects of the game. I'm proud of the boys and how they played tonight."

Rhett Dye, one of Leyton's 10 seniors, said the Warriors were able to stifle the Eagles early in the game.

"But they came out to play," he said. "Props to them. They showed why they're one of the best teams in the West."

And despite the widening gap on the scoreboard as the game progressed, his teammates never gave up, he said.

"Throughout this whole season, at times we've been down a lot – we've had some games where we were down big – but we never really gave up," he said. "There's a lot of heart in this team. I think that comes from good coaching and good leadership."