Spartans Start Fast And Finish Strong In Beating Smith-Cotton

Jackson Engel threw two first half touchdown passes and Ka’Von Tiger ran for two second half scores to give Moberly a 28-7 season-opening victory over Smith-Cotton at Dr. Larry K. Noel-Spartan Stadium. In his first varsity start, Engel engineered an efficient opening drive……

Brad Boyer with the call on KWIX radio and centralmoinfo.com. The Spartans missed a scoring opportunity on their second possession when a touchdown was taken off the board on a penalty and they were turned away on a fourth down play from the two. Later in the second, Engel got another chance on fourth down and this time converted for points…..

Moberly led 14-0 at halftime. Smith-Cotton found the endzone less than a minute into the third quarter when Mylan Hawkins busted off a 54-yard run. Other than that burst, the Tigers star running back was held to 19 yards on ten carries.

The Spartans had their back to the goal line much of the third quarter with poor field position, but Smith-Cotton couldn’t get the equalizer. Moberly coach Cody McDowell said his defense held the line…..

The Spartans benefited from a pair of 15-yard personal foul penalities and Tiger found the endzone from 14 yards out, with 12 seconds left in the third, to make the score 21-7. With the Spartans able to run out the clock late, Tiger broke a 29-yard touchdown run for the final score. Coach McDowell was happy to see his guys respond….

In unofficial numbers, Engel threw for 115 yards and ran for 57 yards. Tiger rushed for 96 yards. Micah Land hit all four extra point kicks and caught three passes. The Moberly and Smith-Cotton series is now tied at four apiece.

The 1-0 Spartans will travel to Osage next Friday. We will broadcast the game on KWIX.

postgame with Cody McDowell….