Ground & Pound: Pratt Runs Wild in 36–14 Victory Over Circle
If you like explosive ground attacks, bone-rattling defense, and big-play fireworks, this matchup delivered in spades. Behind a relentless rushing performance, the Pratt Greenbacks pulled away to defeat the Circle Thunderbirds, 36–14.
Pratt didn't spend much time taking to the air—they didn't need to. The Greenbacks ripped off 448 yards on the ground at an astounding 15.4 yards per carry, overwhelming Circle with breakaway runs and timely defensive stands.
Here is the full breakdown of how it all went down.
First Quarter: Explosive Tracks Meet Instant Responses
Right out of the gate, Pratt made their game plan clear: feed their playmakers and let the offensive line do the heavy lifting.
On Pratt’s very first offensive snap, Sabastian Beach shattered through the defense for a massive 64-yard sprint down to the Circle 11-yard line.
Sebastian Beach 64 yard run Two plays later, workhorse back Cade Liggett powered it into the end zone from 5 yards out, capping off a 3-play, 75-yard drive to give Pratt a quick 7–0 lead.
Pratt's ground attack struck again late in the quarter when Liggett found daylight on a 28-yard touchdown run, doubling the Greenbacks' lead to 14–0.
Circle didn't stay down for long, answering with a lightning strike of their own. On second down from their own 30, star running back Jason Smith took a handoff, broke into the open field, and sprinted 70 yards to the house. After a missed two-point conversion, the Thunderbirds cut the deficit to 14–6.
The momentum swing lasted mere seconds. Pratt took over at their own 8-yard line, and just two plays later, quarterback Kipton Smith called his own number, exploding through a gap for a dazzling 75-yard touchdown gallop.
Though the PAT was blocked, Pratt had re-established control at 20–6 heading into the second frame.
Second Quarter: Circle Fights Back, Pratt Defends the Edge
Trailing by two scores, Circle pieced together a gritty, 10-play, 74-yard march. Quarterback Cole Wilbur kept the chains moving with a clutch 38-yard connection to Jason Smith and a 25-yard strike to Mason McGinley down to the goal line. Wilbur punched it in himself on a 1-yard plunge and ran in the two-point conversion, pulling Circle right back into the contest at 20–14.
Circle’s defense responded by pinning Pratt deep and forcing a punt, but field position proved treacherous. Backed up on their own end, Circle surrendered a sack that eventually led to a Safety, giving Pratt two points and pushing the score to 22–14.
Before halftime, Circle threatened to score again after a 25-yard burst by Jason Smith put them in Pratt territory. But Pratt defensive back Caleb Strong made the defensive play of the first half, intercepting a Wilbur pass and returning it a whopping 74 yards to close out the half with Pratt on top.
Third Quarter: The Cade Liggett Breakaway Show
If Circle still felt they were within striking distance, Pratt quickly crushed those hopes in the third quarter.
After Pratt’s defense forced a quick three-and-out, Liggett took a first-down handoff from his own 40-yard line and went untouched for a 60-yard touchdown sprint to extend the margin to 29–14.
Circle attempted to claw back, moving inside Pratt territory multiple times, but Pratt’s defense stood tall on crucial fourth-down downs.
Then came the dagger. Taking over at their own 22-yard line, Pratt handed the rock back to Liggett. One cut, a burst through the second level, and Liggett was gone—a devastating 78-yard touchdown run, his fourth score of the night, pushing the lead to 36–14.
From there, Pratt’s defense held firm on back-to-back 4th-down stops to milk the clock and seal a dominant home victory.
By The Numbers
Team Stats
Statistic | Circle | Pratt |
First Downs | 10 | 13 |
Rushing Yards (Att-Yds) | 32–151 (2 TD) | 29–448 (5 TD) |
Passing Yards (C-A-I) | 119 (12-20-1) | 13 (1-6-0) |
Total Offense | 270 yards | 461 yards |
Turnovers | 1 (INT) | 2 (FUM) |
Penalties | 8–50 | 2–10 |
Top Individual Performers
Pratt Greenbacks
Cade Liggett: 14 carries, 246 rushing yards, 4 touchdowns (scoring runs of 5, 28, 60, and 78 yards)
Kipton Smith: 4 carries, 90 rushing yards, 1 TD (75-yard scamper) | 1/2 passing, 13 yards
Sabastian Beach: 5 carries, 84 rushing yards (long of 64) | 1 catch, 13 yards
Caleb Strong: 1 Interception (74-yard return)
Circle Thunderbirds
Jason Smith: 17 carries, 149 rushing yards, 1 TD (70-yard run) | 2 catches, 35 yards
Cole Wilbur: 12/20 passing, 119 yards | 1 rushing TD & 2-point conversion
Rocky Cosby: 3 receptions, 37 yards
Mason McGinley: 2 receptions, 33 yards
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