DIGHTON -- Otis-Bison picked off Dighton quarterback Tyler Lingg early in the fourth quarter, the first time the four-year senior has thrown an interception this season. The Cougars then ran 12 straight running plays and elapsed more than six and a half minutes off the clock.
On second-and-goal from the Dighton 8-yard line and the score tied at 30, Otis-Bison called a pass play, much to the surprise of Lingg and Hornet senior Dylan Foos.
Senior quarterback Kade Urban moved to his right and lofted a pass in the end zone that Dighton senior Lake Lewis jumped up and intercepted in front of Cougar senior Brad Lightfoot with 2 minutes, 30 seconds left.
Following the turnover, Dighton’s quick-strike, passing offense drove 65 yards. Lingg delivered the game-winning score on a 2-yard run with 1:11 remaining.
Dighton held Otis-Bison on the ensuing possession and won, 36-30, in a key Eight-Man, Division II, District 6 contest.
“I didn’t see it coming at all,” Foos said. “They’ve been running the ball down our throats, and it was kind of risky for them to throw a pass like that, but luckily we came up with that one. I thought it was option all the way to be honest. I came up, and luckily Lake was there to make that play.”
Dighton, unranked to open the season and now No. 4, moved to 7-0, 3-0 in district play. Otis-Bison, second in the polls most of the year, dropped to 4-3, 2-1 with its third close loss.
“We had a guy early, but not late,” Otis-Bison coach Travis Starr said. “Put the ball in one of our best players’ hands.”
The Hornets, with 14 players and four seniors, have defeated Sharon Springs-Wallace County and Otis-Bison the in consecutive weeks.
Wallace County beat No. 2 ranked Hodgeman County, 48-28, on the road Friday. Wallace County is 4-3, 2-1, while Hodgeman County stands at 5-2, 2-1. Dighton plays host to Hodgeman County next week.
Otis-Bison had run the ball effectively all game, especially in the second half, in a matchup of contrasting styles.
“It was a great interception,” Lingg said. “It changed the game. That’s what led us down to score, and that’s what set it up.”
Urban collected 29 carries for 130 yards and three touchdowns. He also finished 6 of 17 for 72 yards with a passing score and the interception. Lightfoot tallied 17 carries for 101 yards as the Cougars used the running game to dominate the third quarter.
“Tough win,” Lingg said. “That is a very good football team right there. Both teams fought to the end. We just happened to come out on top, make a few extra plays, and that’s what made the difference. Great team effort.”
After the interception, Dighton took over at its own 15-yard line. After a one-yard pass, Lingg completed a great pass down the right sideline that Lewis managed to stay inbounds for a 24-yard gain.
“That was a key play,” Lingg said. “That’s what got that last drive started for us.”
Lingg finished 20 of 30 for 388 yards and four touchdowns. This season, he has passed for 23 scores against one interception.
“I have got to give credit back to my coaches,” Lingg said. “They’ve coached me up. Every single week I work on passing. They’ve taught me everything I know.”
After another completion, Lingg found sophomore David Cramer on a crossing route down the sideline for a 23-yard catch to the seven-yard line.
“He’s huge,” Dighton coach Ken Simon said. “Obviously teams are going to game plan to stop Dylan Foos, and we have to have other receivers step up with the pass game, and we definitely had that tonight. David – super proud of him, made several big grabs, and a couple of times made some great runs after the catch.”
Lingg rushed to the five-yard line and then tallied the touchdown on the next play. Dighton rushed 13 times for 12 yards in the game.
“Their defense was stout,” Lingg said. “They watched tape this week obviously, and they saw all the running we did last week on Sharon, and they came in ready for it.”
Otis-Bison moved the ball to its own 34-yard line before a tackle for loss and three straight incompletions turned the ball over.
“Just relief,” Simon said. “When that last throw hit the ground, it was just relief. Super proud of the guys. We fought back. We definitely didn’t play our best game, but the way we fought, I was definitely proud of them.”
Dighton led 22-16 entering intermission. Lingg found Foos for touchdowns of 57 and 50 yards. The first time, Foos caught the ball near the sideline and then made multiple defenders miss.
“It’s awesome to have a playmaker like that,” Lingg said. “He is just a playmaking guy. That’s what he does for a living.”
On the second one, Lingg lobbed a perfect deep pass. Otis-Bison sophomore defensive back Maitland Wiltse jumped and nearly defended the pass, but Foos, also guarded by Lightfoot, hauled in the ball. Foos finished with 12 catches for 213 yards and three scores.
“I’ve taught myself over the years just focus on the ball, then run, so that’s what I did,” Foos said.
Dighton took a 22-8 lead when Lingg found sophomore Dalton Hoffman for a 61-yard touchdown on a long pass down the sideline.
However, Otis-Bison closed to within 22-16 late in the half on a 33-yard scoring pass from Urban to sophomore Blake Bahr. Then, Dighton drove to the 1-yard line in the final seconds. Foos was called for offsides, and Otis-Bison blocked a 23-yard field goal to end the quarter.
At halftime, the Cougars had run 30 plays for 139 yards, while Dighton had 23 plays for 222 yards.
“It was three blown passes in the first half,” Starr said. “They didn’t drive the ball. We stopped the run, but their quarterback is good. (Foos) is good.”
In the third quarter, Otis-Bison never attempted a pass as Urban and Lightfoot led the offense to two scoring drives. Urban scored on runs of nine and 18 yards for a 30-22 lead.
Dighton tied the game late in the third quarter on a 30-yard pass to Foos. Those were the final points until Lingg’s run following the interception – Lewis’ first of the season.
“We had a feeling that they were going to eventually try it,” Simon said. “They were pounding it and pounding it on us, and we had a hard time getting them stopped, and fortunately, we were in position and made the play.”
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