Heartbreak in Haven: Wildcats Edge Greenbacks 42–41 in Overtime Thriller
HAVEN, Kan. — In a wild, back-and-forth classic that featured 83 combined points, over 890 yards of total offense, and momentum shifts at every turn, the Pratt Greenbacks came up just one point short on the road, falling 42–41 to the Haven Wildcats in overtime.
The Greenbacks (41 points, 517 yards of offense) delivered blow after blow on the ground and through the air, but the Wildcats clawed back from a 15-point second-half deficit and converted the decisive extra point in extra time to seal the victory.
First Half: Fast-Paced Fireworks
Haven took the opening drive 72 yards over 11 plays to draw first blood, scoring on a 16-yard touchdown strike from Brogan Wray to Cole Brawner. A missed PAT kept the Wildcats’ lead at 6–0.
Pratt countered immediately. Cade Liggett ignited the Greenback offense with a 34-yard burst on his first carry, and moments later, Liggett showed off his arm on a trick-play 10-yard touchdown pass to Caleb Strong. With a good point-after kick, Pratt grabbed a 7–6 lead.
Disaster struck Haven on the very next play when the ensuing kickoff was muffed and recovered by Pratt at the Haven 14-yard line. Two plays later, Liggett punched it into the end zone on a 4-yard run to push Pratt ahead 13–6.
Haven answered before the end of the opening quarter on a 4th-and-2 call, as Wray called his own number and broke loose for a 38-yard touchdown scamper to tie the contest at 13–13.
Pratt took control in the second frame. Capping a grinding 9-play, 44-yard march, Liggett barreled in from 6 yards out to restore the lead at 20–13. Later in the quarter, quarterback Kipton Smith directed a 71-yard drive, hitting Caleb Strong on an 18-yard third-down conversion and then finding Strong again for a 29-yard touchdown.
Max Thimesch ran in the two-point conversion, giving Pratt a 28–13 cushion at the break.
Second Half: A High-Stakes Shootout and Battle of Attrition
The Wildcats refused to go quietly in the third quarter. Wray ignited the home crowd by connecting with Kolton Altvater for a 50-yard touchdown bomb, shrinking Pratt’s lead to 28–20.
Pratt responded with a lightning-quick drive of their own. Liggett broke free for an electrifying 59-yard run down to the red zone.
Facing a crucial 4th-and-8 from the 18, Smith fired a strike to Strong for their second touchdown connection of the evening, restoring a 15-point lead at 35–20.
Just 10 seconds later, Haven struck right back. On the very first play from scrimmage following the kickoff, Wray aired it out to Brawner for a 51-yard touchdown to cut the score to 35–27.
From there, the Greenbacks were forced into a brutal battle against both the Wildcats and mounting adversity, as a severe wave of second-half injuries took a heavy toll on the Pratt sideline. Workhorse back Cade Liggett (183 rushing yards, 2 rushing TDs, 1 passing TD), starting quarterback Kipton Smith (134 passing yards, 2 TDs), and defensive anchor August Deeds were all knocked out of action and unable to finish the contest.
With depth stretched thin and players forced into new and expanded roles, Pratt fought desperately to protect the lead. Max Thimesch took over signal-calling duties and stepped up under fire, completing 3-of-4 passes for 106 yards. Late in the third quarter, an interception in Pratt territory opened the door for Haven, setting up an 11-play, 29-yard drive that carried into the fourth quarter. Wray scored on a 1-yard dive, and Brawner muscled across the two-point run to tie the game at 35–35 with 7:13 left in regulation.
Pratt’s depleted offense answered with tremendous heart, moving inside the Haven 10-yard line behind Thimesch strikes of 25 and 30 yards to Strong, but a devastating fumble halted the threat. The defense dug in as Quinton Humble stepped up for a huge interception on Wray with just over three minutes to play. On the final snap of regulation, Thimesch aired out a 51-yard completion to Matthew James, but the Greenbacks were tackled short of the goal line to send the game to overtime.
Overtime: Decided by Inches
Pratt possessed the ball first in the extra period from the 10-yard line. With Liggett unavailable, the Greenbacks leaned entirely on Sabastian Beach, who carried four straight times. Beach capped the drive with a gritty 1-yard dive into the end zone on 4th-and-goal to give Pratt a 41–35 advantage. However, Haven broke through to block the extra point.
On Haven’s turn, Wray ran for 9 yards on first down before plunging into the end zone from 1 yard out to knot the score at 41. An encroachment penalty moved the ball half the distance, and Haven converted the ensuing PAT kick to walk away with a 42–41 win.
Key Box Score & Individual Stats
Team Totals
First Downs: Pratt 25, Haven 21
Rushing Yards: Pratt 272 (45 att), Haven 176 (39 att)
Passing Yards: Pratt 255 (14-20-1), Haven 213 (13-27-1)
Total Offense: Pratt 517 yards (65 plays), Haven 379 yards (66 plays)
Pratt Greenbacks
Rushing:
Cade Liggett: 25 carries, 183 yards, 2 TDs (Long: 59)
Sabastian Beach: 10 carries, 37 yards, 1 TD
Kipton Smith: 5 carries, 25 yards
Caleb Strong: 4 carries, 23 yards
Passing:
Kipton Smith: 9-of-12, 134 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
Max Thimesch: 3-of-4, 106 yards
Cade Liggett: 2-of-4, 15 yards, 1 TD
Receiving:
Caleb Strong: 9 receptions, 168 yards, 3 TDs
Matthew James: 1 reception, 51 yards
Cade Liggett: 1 reception, 33 yards
Josh Michal: 1 reception, 5 yards
Defense:
Quinton Humble: 1 INT
Haven Wildcats
Rushing:
Brogan Wray: 13 carries, 96 yards, 3 TDs
Cole Brawner: 23 carries, 84 yards
Passing:
Brogan Wray: 13-of-27, 213 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT
Receiving:
Cole Brawner: 5 receptions, 89 yards, 2 TDs
Kolton Altvater: 4 receptions, 73 yards, 1 TD
Zade Turner: 1 reception, 23 yards
Cole Proffit: 2 receptions, 18 yards
Defense:
Brogan Wray: 1 INT
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