Another long fourth quarter drive by the opposing team doomed the Kirksville Tigers for the second week in a row as Chillicothe pounded the Tigers with their famous running game and the Hornets beat KHS 34-14 Friday. The Tigers got off to a rough start with several false start penalties and KHS fell behind early 20-0. The Tigers did put together a methodical drive of their own in the second quarter with a ten play, 72 yard drive and finished the drive with a 16 yard scoring pass from Isaac Danielson to Randon Baumgartner with 8:53 to play in the 2nd quarter. The two point conversion brought the Tigers to within 12 points, 20-8. Chillicothe gut punched the Tigers with a 33 yard scoring pass from Gage Leamer to Brock Ward right before halftime which gave the Hornets a 26-8 lead at the break. Bryce Kertz came up with a big interception which he returned 15 yards for a touchdown early in the third quarter to make it 26-14, but the Hornets came up with a 90 yard drive which consumed nearly ten minutes capped off by a one yard dive by Leamer on a keeper which put the game away
34-14. Chillicothe dominated the time of possession, keeping the ball for 31 1/2 minutes compared to Kirksville’s 16 1/2. Kirksville’s Landon Yardley carried the ball 18 times for 118 yards, but the Tigers couldn’t overcome three interceptions and way too many penalties. Kirksville dips to 0-2 on the year and will make the trip to Savannah for non-conference action next Friday. Savannah turned back Lathrop in a defensive battle Friday 6-0.