Photo Credit: Joe Caronia/PrepsKC 
The Penny Hornets used a swarming defense, and a powerful ground game, to advance to the state championship game, as they get by the Tipton Cardinals 20-7.
Tipton took the opening drive and moved the ball into Penny territory. The Hornets defense forced, a turnover on downs, giving the ball back to their offense. On the third play from scrimmage, Carter Kanoy, took a pitch from quarterback, Titus McBee, and Kanoy went around left end and raced 67 yards, for the touchdown. Jack Cooley’s point after, was blocked.
The rest of the quarter, and most of the second quarter, belonged to both of the defensive squads. McBee led his team down the field, with a long methodical drive. Jack Cooley scored on a 4-yard run, with just :19, left in the half. McBee tried a keeper, for the two-point run, but it was short of the goal line.
Tipton returned the squib kick, back to the Penny 46. After a couple of successful pass plays, Dane Schlotzhauer, connected with Lucas Cashman, on a long pass play, to the Hornet 1 yard line. Cashman was tackled out of bounds, stopping the clock, but there, was no time left on the clock. After an extended discussion, the referee announced that there was, time for one more play before halftime. Paxton Pyle, scored on the extra play, Cooper Doss converted the kick. Tipton trailed 12-7 at the half.
In the second half, both defenses, turned the other offense, over on downs twice. The Hornets defense put the game away, when Jack Cooley, intercepted a pass and returned it, 32 yards for the score. Isac Bales-Rodriguez ran in the two point conversion for the final points of the game.
After the game, Cooley talked about watching film, late last night, and was expecting that play. Hornets head coach Alex Lloyd, also talked about Cooley’s pick-six.
“He was texting me, a scouting report, late last night. I told him Jack, go to bed,” Lloyd said.
Tipton will finish the season with a record of, 11-2. With the win, Penny improves their record to 9-4, and a date with Adrian, next week, in State Title game.
