Complete Box Score and Play by Play
HUTCHINSON – St. James Academy claimed the first football state championship in school history on Friday with a 56-34 victory over Arkansas City in the Class 4A title game at Hutchinson’s Gowans Stadium.
Senior running back La’James White rushed for 264 yards and five touchdowns to pace the Thunder offense on Friday. But it was the St. James defense that ultimately helped provide separation in an otherwise back-and-forth first half that saw the two teams combine for eight touchdowns.
St. James Academy took the opening kickoff and quickly moved down the field. The Thunder would strike first on a 36-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Dakota Burritt to junior receiver Tyler Claiborn. Ark City’s Haden O’Toole blocked the PAT to keep the Thunder lead at 6-0.
Ark City responded in a little more than a minute of game time aided by a big gain on a double pass. Quarterback Gabe Welch lateraled to Cadon Clark and Clark tossed downfield to Lucas Barnes for a 43-yard gain, all the way to the Thunder 15. Wyatt Bahm would finish out the drive from two yards out to give the Bulldogs their first lead at 7-6.
The two offenses would again alternate scoring drives as White scored from six yards out for the Thunder, and Welch answered from three yards to put Ark City back on top 14-13 early in the second quarter.
Both defenses would then finally settle in and get a stop.
Burritt was intercepted by Ark City’s Rhett Lathers on the next possession, but the Bulldogs’ drive would stall out on downs at the Thunder 33-yard line.
White only needed one play to give his team the lead back as the talented senior raced 67 yards to the house with Josh Kirby’s two-point attempt putting the Thunder up 21-14.
“The O-line gave me a ton of time all night,” Burritt said. “Great blocking for Jimmy; (La’James White) he ran like a beast.”
The St. James defense then made their mark, forcing turnovers on consecutive Ark City possessions late in the second quarter.
First came a strip-sack of Welch that gave the Thunder the ball at the Bulldog 14-yard line. Four plays later, Burritt scored on a short bootleg run for a 28-14 lead.
St. James recovered a fumble on Ark City’s next offensive play at the 22-yard line. One play later, White was in the end zone, and in a matter of :17 seconds, the Thunder’s lead had grown from 21-14 to 35-14.
“Our defense came up with some big plays there with Coach [Jason] Denton calling plays. Getting those turnovers were huge.” Coach Tom Radke commented after his victory.
The Bulldogs weren’t done yet in the half. Lucas Barnes returned the ensuing kickoff 60 yards into Thunder territory. Ark City salvaged some momentum going into halftime when Welch sneaked across the goal line on fourth down to pull his team within 35-21 with the Bulldogs set to get the ball first in the third quarter.
Neither offense could produce points on their opening drive of the second half.
Ark City’s initial drive ended in a turnover as White added to his offensive highlights by intercepting Welch to end the Bulldog threat. St. James would drive deep into Ark City territory only to turn the ball over on downs.
Ark City would again stall on its next possession and punt away to the Thunder.
This time, the Thunder would need only one play as White raced 83 yards for a touchdown for the only points of the third quarter.
The Thunder defense would sack Welch twice on the next drive before the end of the third quarter. Welch was sacked six times in the contest.
St. James would score twice again in the game, with White tacking on his fifth touchdown of the contest early in the fourth quarter on a 1-yard run.
After another fourth-down stop by the Thunder defense, St. James would score for a final time as Hayes Manning hauled in an incredible one-handed touchdown catch from Burritt with a defender draped all over him. Ark City was flagged for pass interference on the play, and Manning’s touchdown stood to give the Thunder a 56-21 lead.
The Bulldogs added a pair of long touchdown passes in the final four minutes as Welch connected with Lucas Barnes from 53 yards out and with Cadon Clark from 49 yards.
For Ark City (6-7) the season ends with promise after an incredible run to the state title game after a 2-6 regular season. The Bulldogs feature a young roster with only seven seniors, and several key skill players such as Welch, Bahm, and Clark are only sophomores.
Welch completed 30 of 39 passes for 285 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for two scores. Clark caught 12 balls for 113 yards and a touchdown, while Barnes, a junior, caught four for 107 and a touchdown.
For the Thunder, Burritt complimented White’s big day by passing for 170 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Claiborn had a team-high 93 yards on four receptions.
Friday’s victory was the 75th in the football history at St. James Academy and the schools’ first state football title. The school has now captured 28 state championships in various sports since it opened in 2005.
