The Ellsworth Bearcats varsity football team traveled to Hays Oct. 24 to battle against the Hays Thomas More Prep-Marian Monarchs. The Monarchs controlled the game from start to finish. The final score was 31-20, giving TMP its second win of the season.

The Monarchs started off fast with a quick four-and-out, forcing the Bearcats to punt. The four-andout was followed with a Monarch 2-yard touchdown run. The PAT kick was good, giving TMP an early 7-0 lead.

The next drive for the ‘Cats again ended with a forced punt to TMP. The Monarchs scored their second touchdown with an 11-yard touchdown run. The extra point was no good.

The drought for the Bearcat offense did not end there, however. Less than a minute later, the Monarch defense increased the TMP lead with a 13-yard pick six touchdown. The two-point conversion was unsuccessful, giving the Monarchs a 19-0 lead.

The second quarter was scoreless, with many defensive stops and punts. The score going into halftime was 19-0, with TMP having the advantage.

Ellsworth came into the second half with much more momentum. The ‘Cats put their first points on the board with an interception from senior leader Brendan Tripp, eventually ran in by Luke Sharp. The PAT kick was good by Alberto Socorro de la Fuente.

Four minutes later, the Bearcats decreased the Monarch lead again with a blocked punt picked up by Sharp for a 43-yard touchdown. Socorro’s kick was blocked, keeping the score at 19-13.

Ellsworth’s momentum ended there, however. With less than a minute to go in the third quarter, TMP increased its lead with a 28-yard touchdown run. The extra point attempt was no good.

To begin the fourth quarter, the Monarchs quickly stopped the Bearcat offense. That was followed with an 11-yard touchdown run. The PAT was unsuccessful, increasing the Monarch lead to 31-13.

One minute later, Ellsworth’s Sharp scored his third touchdown of the night with a pass touchdown from quarterback Morgan Kelley. The PAT by Socorro was good.

The remainder of the game was filled with 4-and-outs and many stops. TMP ran the clock at the end of the game to seal the shocking win over the Bearcats, 31-20.

With the loss, Ellsworth’s record is now 5-3 in the regular season, and 2-3 in district play going into the 2A state playoffs next week.

Ellsworth finished the season as the three seed in District 8. The ‘Cats will travel to Lakin to play the Broncs this Friday night. The Broncs finished 7-1 in the regular season, 4-1 in district play. Lakin is the two seed in District 8. The game will begin at 7 p.m.

District 8 Standings are as follows: Hoisington, 5-0; Norton, 4-1; Ellsworth, 2-3; Minneapolis, 2-3; Phillipsburg, 1-4; TMP-Marian, 1-4.