HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: ST. VINCENT HOLDS OFF HAYTI 22-16 TO CLAIM DISTRICT

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- There is no denying that Hayti's Indians have made major strides this season.

But there is also no denying St. Vincent's Indians when it comes to the Missouri high school football playoffs.

St. Vincent captured its fifth consecutive playoff berth Friday night as the Indians scored with under two minutes left to rally past visiting Hayti 22-16 to win the Class 1A, District 1 championship.

St. Vincent, the state's second-ranked 1A squad, wrapped up a perfect regular season with a 10-0 record. The Indians will play at Van-Far of Vandalia at 7 p.m. Wednesday in a sectional game.

Hayti, which did not win a game two years ago and recorded only two victories last season, ended its impressive season with an 8-2 mark and a No. 8 ranking in the 1A state poll.

"This was a whale of a ballgame and Hayti is an excellent team," said St. Vincent coach Keith Winkler. "You have to take your hat off to Hayti. They took it to us."

That's no understatement. Hayti, in fact, probably had the better of the overall play in the hotly contested game played in front of an overflow crowd.

What helped bail St. Vincent out was its usual standout special teams play. The Indians blocked two punts, one setting up a touchdown and one resulting directly in a touchdown.

"We figured that's one of our strengths going into the game and we figured that might be where the game was won," said Winkler of his squad's special teams.

But even with those blocked punts, St. Vincent still found itself behind 16-15 midway through the fourth quarter. Then, with 7:06 remaining, the Indians began their game-winning drive from their own 21-yard line.

Eleven plays later -- all but one of them a run -- and St. Vincent was in the end zone, thanks to a 12-yard Adam Bockman scamper with 1:29 remaining. That touchdown came on a third-and-two play. Derek Kutz tacked on the extra point.

"I got good blocking and I just cut it outside," said a modest Bockman, who actually broke a few tackles on his way to the end zone. "We knew this would be a tough game. Hayti is really good."

St. Vincent scored the game's first touchdown with 8:57 left in the second quarter after Joey Guth blocked a punt and the Indians recovered at the Hayti 33. On third-and-six, Jonathan Paulus hit Bockman with a 29-yard TD strike and Kutz converted for a 7-0 lead.

Hayti brought its fans to life with just 42 seconds left before halftime when Matt Morgan hit Llewellyn Borders with a 52-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown. Morgan ran in the two-point conversion to give Hayti an 8-7 lead at the break.

With just over five minutes remaining in the third period, St. Vincent struck on special teams again. After Kutz -- who is one of the state's premier kickers -- pinned Hayti deep with a 31-yard punt to the six, the Indians stalled and had to punt out of their end zone. Kutz broke through to block it and a host of St. Vincent players fell on the ball in the end zone.

"I don't think anybody knows who actually scored," said Guth, who happened to be in the area. "I think three or four guys were on top of the ball."

Paulus ran in the conversion to put St. Vincent up 15-8 with 5:13 left in the third.

But again Hayti responded. On the final play of the third period, with Hayti facing third-and-10 from the St. Vincent 35, Morgan handed off to Ortiz Banks, who faked a sweep, then stopped and passed back to Morgan. The quarterback was able to maneuver his way to the end zone and Josh Ray's conversion run put Hayti up 16-15.

St. Vincent then answered with its game-winning drive. Hayti was able to come back with one first down but couldn't get past midfield.

The final statistics were about as close as the score. St. Vincent had 237 yards of offense, 180 coming on the ground. Bockman rushed for 75 yards on 14 carries while Mark Gotto added 51 yards and Paulus had 43. Paulus completed three of six passes for 57 yards.

Hayti had 272 yards of offense, 149 on the ground. Banks gained 83 yards on 13 carries while Morgan completed five of 16 for 88 yards.

FRIDAY'S RESULTS

Thursday's results

Cape Central 17, Farmington 0

Valle 43, Chaffee 14

Sikeston 24, Perryville 7

Friday's results

Poplar Bluff 27, Jackson 16

Charleston 34, Scott City 21

St. Vincent 22, Hayti 16

New Madrid 49, Fred'town 8

Malden 44, East Prairie 0

Caruthersville 14, Port'ville 10

Dexter 37, Kennett 27