Contributing writer
The Goessel High School football team had to play from behind in Friday’s contest at St. John’s Military School in Salina.
The Muleskinners got ahead 8-0 and it was well into the first quarter before Trey Schmidt would connect with Zach Showalter for a 22-yard passing touchdown.
Goessel trailed at the end of the first quarter, 8-6. Barely into the second period, Trey Schmidt found Shane Goerzen open for a 41-yard scoring play. Mark Schmidt was able to run in the extra points as the Bluebirds led for the first time in the game, 14-8.
A Trey Schmidt to Showalter pass resulted in another score, this one going for 40 yards. St. John’s scored again just before half time, narrowing the Goessel lead to 20-14, but the Muleskinners failed to corral speedster Goerzen who scored on a 77-yard kick-off return to start the second half. Mark Schmidt scored the two-point conversion to give the Bluebirds a 28-14 lead at the half.
St. John’s Military School scored twice to open the third period, getting as close as 28-26. The Bluebirds then found ways to score three touchdowns with Showalter receiving a 16-yard pass, Trey Schmidt running in from 3 yards, and Goerzen running in from 4 yards to take a 50-26 lead after three quarters.
The Bluebirds built a 32-point lead with Goerzen reaching the end zone again from 7 yards and Kellen Froese running in the extra points. The Muleskinners were able to score and Showalter found pay dirt for the fourth time on a 57-yard pass play from Trey Schmidt. St John’s crossed the goal line for the last time with less than 3 minutes to play to make the final score 66-40.
The Bluebirds will get back into District play on Friday at home with Chase.