The Kirksville Tigers climbed to 2-0 on the young football season with a wild 27-21 win over Chillicothe on Senior Night Friday at Spainhower Field. Both teams were burned by turnovers, but Chillicothe committed the two biggest ones late in the game. The Hornets picked off Jaden Ballinger for the game’s first turnover, and Chillicothe capitalized with a four yard touchdown run by Gage Leamer to take a 7-0 lead.
A fumble recovery by Kirksville’s Lane Gordy set up Kirksville’s first score, a 26 yard run by Ballinger to tie the game at 7-7. The Tiger’s second turnover on an interception set up a one yard touchdown run by Cayden Potter to make it 14-7 Hornets going in to halftime.
The Tigers scored early in the third on a 57 yard run by Landon Yardley, but the PAT was no good, 14-13 Chillicothe. After the Hornets turned the ball over on downs at the Kirksville 9 yard line, the Tigers reeled off a 91 yard drive, capped off by a two yard touchdown run by Sam Thomas. The 2 point conversion made it 21-14 Tigers as they took their first lead of the game headed into the fourth quarter. The Hornets scored on a 13 play, 71 yard drive which consumed nearly six minutes. Demarcus Kelow capped it off with two yard run, the PAT kick tied the game at 21-21.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Kirksville’s Randon Baumgartner scored on a 67 yard jet sweep. The PAT was no good, but Kirksville had the lead again at 27-21. Chillicothe threw a fourth down interception to Brock Burchett with 2:30 to play, but the Hornets they would still get one more chance. On another fourth down play, Chillicothe quarterback Gage Leamer threw the ball long down the field. The Hornet receiver had his defender beaten on man coverage, but the receiver fell down, the ball sailed over his head, and was intercepted by the Tiger’s Luther Evans in the end zone with one second to play to preserve the Tiger victory 27-21.
Kirksville committed three tournovers on the night, but Chillicothe had four. Kirksville racked up 378 yards of total offense, compared to 296 for Chillicothe, 249 of those on the ground. Ballinger finished with 170 passing yards. The Tigers ran the ball for 208 yards.
Kirksville gets to 2-0 on the season and get ready for Christian High School of O’Fallon Friday night at 7:00 right back at Spainhower Field.