By Ernie W. Webb III
The state of Kansas has had its share of dynasties through the years, and Andale secured its place at the big table with the likes of Lawrence, Hutchinson, Kapaun, Olathe North, Miege, Smith Center, Colgan and Midway-Denton on Saturday with a 28-0 shutout against Holton.
That workmanlike win against the Wildcats (11-2) gave Andale (13-0) its fourth consecutive Class 3A championship and pushed the school’s win streak to 51 games. Andale, which hasn’t lost a game since a 21-19 setback against Pratt in the 2018 semifinals, joins the aforementioned programs as those with four or more straight titles.
In capping the senior class’ remarkable run, Andale finished the season in fitting fashion, pitching its seventh shutout, including four in the postseason. Andale allowed only six points in the playoffs, outscoring its opponents 220-6.
Andale wasted little team staking its claim to another crown, driving 80 yards in 13 plays while consuming more than seven minutes on the opening possession of the game. During the series, Riley Marx converted a third-and-5 with an 8-yard run, and Andale picked up a first down when Holton was offsides on a fourth-and-1 from the 14.
The biggest play of the drive came on fourth-and-goal from the 16 when quarterback Wyatt Spexarth hit Marx on a short pass in the flat. Marx raced toward the goal line, fighting through a pair of defenders at the 1 to give Andale a 6-0 lead. Cody Parthemer added the conversion run for an 8-0 edge.
Holton, which saw its 11-game win streak snapped, recovered a fumble at Andale’s 40 late in the first quarter, moving to the 13-yard line by the end of the period. However, on fourth-and-6, Andale stuffed quarterback Matt Lierz for a 2-yard gain to take over on downs.
Andale then went on another long, time-consuming drive spanning more than six minutes and covering 89 yards. A fourth-down conversion preceded a 40-yard pass from Spexarth to Parthemer, setting up the former’s 1-yard touchdown run. Marlo Sullivan tacked on the PAT kick for a 15-0 cushion midway through the second quarter.
After forcing a three-and-out, Andale pushed the lead to 22-0 with an 11-play, 65-yard drive. Parthemer converted on a fourth-and-1 with an 8-yard run to set up first-and-goal, and he capped the possession with a 1-yard plunge late in the half.
Holton moved the ball into Andale territory on its first series of the third quarter, but an interception on fourth-and-long ended the drive. Andale didn’t score on the ensuing series, but chewed up more than nine minutes before stalling at Holton’s 19.
Andale put the game away in the fourth quarter after recovering a fumble at Holton’s 38. Owen Eck scored on an 11-yard run with 51 seconds remaining to account for the final tally.
Spexarth completed 10 of 15 passes for 159 yards to lead Andale, while Parthemer had 98 total yards (67 receiving and 31 rushing). Eck added 66 yards on 12 carries, Marx 59 yards on eight rushes and Gage Prosser 53 total yards (40 rushing and 13 receiving).
Andale outscored its opponents 689-68 this season.
Lierz paced Holton with 95 total yards, including 62 rushing on six carries. Jayden Fletcher added 66 yards (33 rushing and receiving), Garyson Booth had 20 yards rushing and Jace Boswell 16 on the ground.
ANDALE 28, HOLTON 0
Holton 0 0 0 0 — 0
Andale 8 14 0 6 — 28
First Quarter
AHS — Riley Marx 16 pass from Wyatt Spexarth (Cody Parthemer run)
Second Quarter
AHS – Spexarth 1 run (Marlo Sullivan kick)
AHS – Parthemer 1 run (Sullivan kick)
Fourth Quarter
AHS – Owen Eck 11 run (Kick failed)
GAME IN FIGURES
HHS AHS
First downs 6 23
Rushes-Yards 29-131 50-212
Passing 1-3-1 10-15-0
Passing yards 33 159
Total yards 164 371
Punts 2-31.0 1-24
Fumbles-lost 2-2 2-1
Penalties 6-35 6-40
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING – Holton: Matt Lierz 6-62, Jayden Fletcher 7-33, Garyson Booth 11-20, Jace Boswell 5-16. Andale: O. Eck 12-66, Marx 8-59, Gage Prosser 13-40, Parthemer 9-31, Spexarth 8-16.
RECEIVING – Holton: Fletcher 1-33. Andale: Parthemer 2-67, Gage Prosser 2-13, Kelby Eck 1-32, Marx 1-16, Noah Bruce 1-13, Karson Butts 1-11, Trent Eck 1-4, O. Eck 1-3
PASSING – Holton: Lierz 1-3-1 33. Andale: Spexarth 10-15-0 159.