Pirates lose playoff game to Grace
Turnovers hurt the Pirates as their season ended with a 38-48 loss to Grace in a state playoff game at Cottonwood Friday, Nov. 1.
Prairie received the opening kickoff and moved the ball from their own 46 to the Grace 23 before the drive stalled and they turned the ball over on downs.
Grace was able to mix run and pass and had help from a penalty against the Pirates as they went 73 yards in 8 plays to score. They added the 2-pointer for a 0-8 lead.
Prairie’s first turnover came on the ensuing kickoff as Grace recovered the fumble at the Prairie 36. They needed just 1 play to score again and with the 2-pointer were now up 0-16.
Prairie managed just 3 plays after the kickoff before turning the ball over again. This time it was an interception that Grace returned for a touchdown. Prairie stopped the 2-point run making it 0-22.
On their next possession Prairie was able to put a drive together. They took over at their own 41 after a short kickoff and ran the ball 14 straight times with Dylan Uhlenkott, Chris Schumacher and Levi McElroy all carrying multiple times.
Schumacher capped the drive by going in from the 1 yard line. Uhlenkott ran in the 2-pointer to make it 8-22 early in the second quarter.
Defensively Prairie forced a punt after 3 plays but wound up turning the ball over at the Grace 15 yard line.
Grace gained 39 yards on a pass to get into Pirate territory but a holding penalty and the a sack by Uhlenkott for an 11 yard loss led to Grace turning the ball over on downs at their own 38.
Prairie moved down to the Grace 14 where they turned the ball over again.
Grace took over at their 17 and 4 plays later completed a pass that went 74 yards for a touchdown. The 2-point pass failed making it 8-28.
Grace then recovered an onside kick at the prairie 43 and after a false start penalty, completed a 48 yard pass for another touchdown. The 2-point try failed leaving Grace with an 8-34 lead at the half.
Prairie kicked off to start the second half with Grace taking over at their 39. On the first play the ball got knocked loose and Jake Quintal recovered at the Grace 35.
McElroy completed a pass for 25 yards to Levi Gehring to set up first and goal. McElroy then ran a keeper for 2 yards and on the next play went 8 yards to the end zone. The 2-point pass failed making it 14-34.
Grace was forced to punt after just 3 plays and Prairie took over at their own 32.
Uhlenkott caught a deep pass from McElroy for 33 yards to move the ball to the Grace 35. Two runs by McElroy netted 13 yards but a holding penalty set the Pirates back to the 32. McElroy then passed to Uhlenkott down the right side for a touchdown. McElroy then passed to Briggs Rambo for the 2 pointer to cut the deficit to 22-34.
On Grace’s first play after the kickoff they got what appeared to be a big play on a pass but Prairie forced a fumble and Schumacher picked the ball up at the Prairie 45 and returned it to the Grace 19.
On fourth and 5 at the 15, McElroy passed to Rambo for a touchdown. Uhlenkott ran in the 2-pointer to cut the deficit to just 4 at 30-34.
Grace answered with a 5 play, 65 yard touchdown drive and added the 2 pointer to go back on top by 12 at 30-42.
Prairie tried to answer with a 29 yard pass to Rambo moving the ball down to the Grace 15. Prairie fumbled the ball away though on the next play with Grace takin over at their own 26.
Grace picked up a first down but then a penalty set them back and they wound up punting. Gehring was able to corral the ball after muffing the punt at the Prairie 22.
A 25 yard pass to Phil Schwartz moved the ball to the 50. Uhlenkott picked up 8 yards on fourth and 4 for a first down at the 36.
A holding penalty set the Pirates back but McElroy gained 19 to set up fourth and 4 at the 30. McElroy then passed to Uhlenkott on the right side and Uhlenkott was able to take the ball to the end zone. McElroy passed to Rambo for the 2-pointer to again get the Pirates within 4 at 38-42.
At that point came the back breaker. Prairie kicked off deep and Grace’s Carson Welch took the ball at the 30 and ran it back 70 yards for a touchdown. The 2-point pass failed putting Prairie down again by 2 scores, 38-48.
Prairie was able to move into Grace territory thanks to a 28 yard completion to Schwartz to the 17. Prairie was unable to convert on fourth down though and Grace was able to run out the clock.
McElroy gained 103 yards on 19 carries to lead the rushing attack while Uhlenkott added 47 yards on 19 carries. Prairie had 170 yards rushing.
McElroy completed 12 of 22 passes for 228 yards with 1 interception. Uhlenkott caught 5 passes for 101 yards and 2 touchdowns. Rambo caught 3 for 45 yards. Schwartz caught to for 53 yards and Gehring caught 2 for 29 yards.
Prairie’s season ends with a 6-4 record.
Thank you to Matt Elven for sharing a link to the school’s filming of the game. Thanks also to Eric Coffelt for taking pictures for us since we were at State Volleyball.
Grace 22 12   8 6 -48
Prairie  0   8 22 8 -38
G-Braden Kimball 12 run (Gavin Draper run).
G-Kimball 36 pass from Draper (Draper run).
G-Kimball 50 interception return (run failed).
P-Chris Schumacher 1 run (Dylan Uhlenkott run).
G-Cooper Andersen 75 pass from Draper (pass failed).
G-Bryant Jensen 47 pass from Draper (run failed).
P-Levi McElroy 8 run (pass failed).
P-Uhlenkott 32 pass from McElroy (Briggs Rambo pass from McElroy).
P-Rambo 15 pass from McElroy (Uhlenkott run).
G-Trevor Mathews 18 run (Kimball run).
P-Uhlenkott 32 pass from McElroy (Rambo pass from McElroy).
G-Carson Welch 70 kick return (pass failed).

All games at 7 p.m. except indicated
30-Deary, there, won 44-8
  6-vs. Valley at Fruitland, 6:30 p.m. (MST), lost 22-52
13-Lapwai*, here, won 68-14
20-Kamiah*, here, Homecoming, won 50-38
27-Logos*, there, lost 20-62
  3-C.V.*, there , date changed due to lack of officials on Oct. 4, won 54-36
11-Potlatch*, here, won 46-32
18-Troy*, there, won 63-8
25-Kendrick*, here, Senior Night, lost 20-52
1-State First Round vs. Grace at Cottonwood, 6 p.m., lost 38-48
*League  Game