Tipton runs over University Academy 49-7

KANSAS CITY — The Tipton Cardinals used a heavy dose of their running game and created havoc in the University Academy backfield Monday night to earn their third straight trip to the Class 1 football quarterfinals.

The Cardinals ran for 169 yards in the first half and Chris Bracht caught three touchdown passes as they built a 28-0 halftime lead and cruised to a 49-7 victory at Center High School.

All the hype surrounding University Academy quarterback Darrenn White was muted by an attacking defense that made White scramble to keep plays alive. For the most part, the Cardinals kept him contained, although he did break a few big plays.

“Our defense did a great job,” Tipton coach Tony Braby said. “We bent a little but we didn’t break.”

White finished 12 of 29 passing for 133 yards, and he ran 13 times for 100 yards, including a touchdown.

Tipton rushed 53 times for 268 yards, with four players gaining 47 or more yards. Jonathan Loganbill led the Cardinals with 79 yards on 15 carries.

The Cardinals (12-0) ran to the outside early and moved the ball at will.

“We wanted to run the football, get first downs and keep the ball out of White’s hands,” Braby said. “The offensive line did great.”

After Burt Barbour returned the opening kick 30 yards, the Cardinals marched 55 yards for their first touchdown.

Starting quarterback Marcus Brinkley, who injured his shoulder last week, led the drive, but he went to the sidelines in favor of Zack Knipp on a fourth-and-10 play from the Gryphons’ 16-yard line.

Knipp threw up a pass in the right corner of the end zone, and Bracht outleaped his defender to make the catch. Bracht kicked the extra point, and the Cardinals led 7-0 with 7:43 left in the first quarter. Bracht went 5 for 6 on PATs.

The Cardinals’ second drive started at the University Academy 45-yard line after the Gryphons went for it on fourth-and-2 and came up a yard short.

Brinkley returned to the game, but fullback Keil Allison threw a 30-yard TD pass to Bracht for a 14-0 lead with 3:14 left in the first. Brinkley didn’t attempt a pass all night.

The Cardinals struck again in the second quarter despite stumbling a bit once they reached the red zone.

University Academy (9-3) forced 1-yard losses on the Cardinals’ first two plays from Gryphons’ 9. The Cardinals then were penalized 5 yards for delay of game, but Knipp returned and hit Bracht for a 16-yard touchdown and a 21-0 Tipton lead 4:50 before halftime.

Bracht intercepted a pass by White on the Gryphons’ next possession and returned it 25 yards to the University Academy 37. Seven plays later, Brinkley scored from the 1 on a quarterback keeper, giving Tipton a 28-0 lead.

University Academy showed signs of life at the start of the third quarter. White broke free on the first play from scrimmage and raced 58 yards for a touchdown, slicing his team’s deficit to 28-7.
The momentum appeared to be turning when the Cardinals went three-and-out on their next series.

However, the Cardinals’ Bracht booted a 40-yard punt, giving University Academy poor field position at its 22.

The Gryphons gained only 4 yards in three plays and elected to go for it on fourth-and-6. White’s pass fell incomplete.

Tipton capitalized on the good field position. The Cardinals took over at the University Academy 25 and Brinkley scored from the 1 to push the lead to 34-7. The extra-point kick was blocked.

The Gryphons went for it on fourth down deep in their own territory on their next two possessions, failing each time, and Tipton capitalized.

Loganbill scored on a 1-yard run, and Dallas Peoples scored a 2-point conversion for a 42-7 lead.

Barbour broke loose for a 20-yard TD run early in the fourth quarter against a tiring University Academy defense to complete the scoring.

The Cardinals will travel to Adrian on Saturday for a quarterfinal round matchup.