The Emporia High football team held a 14-12 lead against Coffeyville at halftime before weather suspended the game from Friday evening to Monday evening at Welch Stadium.
Coffeyville outscored the Spartans, 35-14, in the second half for a 47-28 victory.
In the first half, Emporia High scored the first 14 points on two touchdown passes thrown by Micah Gray, a 45-yard touchdown to Owen Ruge and a 33-yard touchdown to Madden Seidl. Coffeyville responded with 12 points in the final 6:45 of the half to cut the deficit to two at halftime before the weather halted the game and postponed the game to Monday.
Coffeyville opened the second half with a nearly 8-minute drive which ended with a fumble recovered by Emporia High. Two plays later, the Golden Tornado forced a Spartan interception and returned it for six for an 18-14 lead. Coffeyville scored 15 points in a span of 38 seconds in the fourth quarter to go up 33-14. Rylan Crowell cut the deficit with a 93-yard kickoff return for a touchdown bringing the deficit to 33-20. Coffeyville responded to go up 40-20 with the Spartans getting one final touchdown with Gray finding Ruge for a 71-yard score.
Gray had a career-high 231 yards passing and three touchdowns, while Ruge had 141 yards on four catches and two touchdowns.
Emporia High coach Kaden Glinsmann said there are still positives to take away from a game that began Friday and ended on Monday.
Emporia High (0-3) will open up Centennial League play on Friday against Topeka High for Homecoming. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. from Welch Stadium. The RV-Doc Pregame Show begins at 6:30 p.m. on Mix 104.9 due to Royals baseball on KVOE.
