By Tara Alumbaugh
Times’ sports
History was made twice within the last week of Cardinal Football, once, attending their first ever Show-Me Bowl championship game on Friday, Dec. 5, and then again that evening, when an appearance just wasn’t good enough for the team, and dominated the Putnam County Midgets from kickoff, taking the Class 1 State Championship Title, 39-14.
This year’s games were held on Craig Stadium at Spratt Memorial Stadium at Missouri Western State University, St. Joseph, with Class 3 playing prior, and Class 5 after. Classes 2, 4 and 6 were played on Saturday, Dec. 6.
Despite the cold weather, the Tipton fans came out, filling the bleachers to cheer on their home team, along with the Tipton Cardinal cheer squad and the Tipton Cardinal Pride Marching Band, who also performed on the field at halftime together. Many generations of Tipton Cardinal football alumni was seen in the stands as well, ready to soak in the excitement.
Going into the game, Tipton held a 12-1 record while Putnam County was 13-0, but to the Cardinals, records didn’t matter, each week was a new game, and that’s exactly how they came out onto the field to play.
The Cardinal captains went onto the field with Coach Duke for the pre-game coin toss. Tipton loss the toss, but Putnam County deferred, leaving the Cardinals to receive the ball first.
Both the Cardinals and the Midgets have a rough start in the first quarter, turning over the ball on fourth downs, with Tipton recovering one fumble as well.
With a little under three minutes left in the third quarter, Tipton monopolizes on a turnover with Will Cashmna running in a touchdown, thrown by Dane Schlotzhauer. An extra point added by kicker Cooper Doss puts the Cardinals on the board leading 7-0.
The undefeated Putnam County team answers back immediately, tying the score at 7 with a break-away long run touchdown and extra point.
Going into the second quarter with a tied game, Tipton doesn’t back down and with 10:18 left in the first half, Tyler Rivera puts the ball in the endzone, but a 2-point conversion was just shy. Tipton now leads 13-7.
Putnam County is not used to a throwing game, but the Cardinals made sure they had no other choice but to throw, stopping their running scheme and shutting their plays down, while the Midgets just couldn’t seem to keep up with the Cardinals speed and strength.
Tipton adds another touchdown with a throw from Schlotzhauer to Rivera, extra point good by Doss, but 5 minutes later Putnam County answers back with a touchdown and extra point, ending the first half Tipton, 19, Midgets, 14.
With a close game still on the board, it was unclear how the second half would go, but the Tipton fans kept up their pep and had all their faith in their team.
Coming into the third, it was deja-vu of the first quarter, having the ball turnover from both teams, but with 1:37 left in the third, Cashman tuns in a pass from Schlotzhauer for a long touchdown, and once again a good extra-point kick by Doss is added, with Tipton now leading 26-14.
The Midgets would not see the endzone at all for the second half, but Tipton was not done.
Shortly into the fourth quarter, Cashman scores another touchdown and extra point from Doss good, now 32-14, and Tipton on top.
Tipton, who has outscored their opponents by a major win in all but two games this season, was not done and wanted to get in one last touchdown of the game and season.
With 2:51 left in the game, Paxton Pyle runs in a touchdown thrown by Schltozhauer, while Doss is good for another extra point, extending the lead to 39-14, and claiming their championship win.
While there was so much to say in the post-game interview, Duke could honestly say, “I’m proud of our kids, our staff and our community. This wasn’t a one-game moment-this was months and months of consistency, sacrifice and belief. Our kids showed up every day, responded to adversity, trusted each other and never backed away from work. No shortcuts. No excuses.”
The boys were so close last years, ending their season in the quarterfinal game at Penney, falling 20-7, with a snowy bus ride there and back. They knew they had “unfinished business” which has been there moto all season.
The 12 seniors joined Coach Bill Duke in the post-game interview, where coach expressed the hard work the team has put into, and says “this is the group that set the standard, and this is the group that will all 12 earn the Cardinal Pride award.”
Two years ago, the sophomores, who are seniors now, played in the post season game at Crystal City, falling by just one point. That game is when this group decided they were going to win a state championship their senior year.
“We learn from our mistakes and let our losses, like Crystal City, fuel us,” said Will Cashman.
A lot of these boys have played together for a long time, in youth and junior high, with Nicklaus Wolf, Ben Bestgen, Brady Dicus, Dane Schlotzhauer, William Wiecken and Riley Walters, add in Will Cashman and Sam Duke their junior high years and Tyler Rivera and Mason Carel their freshman year, followed by Raef Gengler and Brock Battles, this year, this team has been through it all.
“Don’t let these boys fuel you, they are squirrels and talk a lot,” said Coach Duke. “But they love and trust each other.”
But he reminds them, it’s not about the town they are from, it’s about what they’re willing to do and the work they are willing to put in.
“I’m just happy for them,” said Duke. “These boys have studied every week, they call the defensive plays and they take pride in that.”
While Sam Duke joined the team his eight grade year, he said he knew right away he would fit in.
“Wining this title means everything,” Said Sam. “I’m not from here, but they took me in and said, ‘let’s do something special.’”
Dane Schlotzhaeur, who has been the starting quarterback for the last two years, putting in work his sophomore year as well, knew the team had a sense of urgency walking onto the field on Friday. Even ahead in the fourth the just wanted to keep “pounding the ball in.”
Ben Bestgen, who had a fumble recovery in the first quarter described his plan of action with a lose ball, and that is “to find anyway to score.”
Duke described the team as close, no matter the situation they always talk it out, coming off the field, letting everyone know what “their guy” is doing or what needs to change, because of their hard work and dedication, Duke knows that’s why they came home with the program’s first every championship title.
Stats
Offense
As a team, Tipton had 38 runs for 256 yards, broken up , Paxton Pyle had 20 rushes for 113 yards, scoring one touchdown, while Tyler Rivera had 9 for 46 yards, scoring two touchdowns, and Will Cashman had seven rushes for 91 yards and two touchdowns. Ty Bixler had one rush for nine yards. Dane Schlotzhauer had a loss of three yards in one carry.
Tipton had eight receptions for 155 yards with Bixler having four for 93 yards, scoring one touchdown, but was called back in a controversial out of bounds call.
Rivera had one catch for 28 yards, while Cashman had 1 for 21 yards, Andrew Bestgen, one for 10 yards, and Pyle, one for three yards.
Sam Duke, Nicklause Wolf, Ben Betgen and Chance Petree each had one pancake each on the line for the game.
Schlotzhauer complete 11 of 18 throws for a total of 202 yards and one touchdown.
Defense
Levi Street led the Cardinals in tackles with 19 for the game, followed by Reid Broyles and Sam Duke with 8.5 each, and Rivera with 8. Will Cashman had 7, while Ben Bestgen completed 6 tackles, and Chance Petree and Cooper Doss had 5.5 each, followed by Pyle with 5, Brady Dicus and Hunter Hagerman, 3 each, and Landon Bracht, 1.
B. Bestgen had one fumble recovery, while Dicus and Doss had two pass break ups each and Reid Broyles forced one fumble.
Family ties
While this title means a lot to the community and team, there are a few people that it holds emotional value.
Coach Bob Wolf, who has been a part of the Tipton Cardinal football program for many years, played as a high schooler, then coached many years in the Tipton Youth Program, watching his son Nicklaus, grow in the sport.
“This win was an unbelievable feeling,” said Wolf. “Being from Tipton my whole life and seeing so many great Tipton teams getting so close, it was exciting to be a part of the first championship team. Having coached many of these kids in our great youth program and seeing them work so hard for a common goal was special.”
He went on to say, “Being given the opportunity by Coach Duke to coach my son and being able to hug him as he came off the field for the final time as a state champion, was one of the greatest moments of my life.”
Coach Duke has been here to coach his son Conner Duke at Tipton and now his youngest, Sam, but he also was able to experience the title with Sam on the field, and Conner and his older son, Jake, by his side coaching.
“It’s incredibly special,” Said Duke. “Winning a state title is something every coach dreams about, but getting to experience it with my son on the field and my other two boys right there beside us is something I’ll never forget. You pour so much time into building a program, into trying to help young men grow, compete and believe -and then to share that moment with your own kids…it hits, on a different level.”
He feels this is something our family will always remember. “It’s bigger than football at that point-it’s about time together, moments shared and seeing your kids be part of something meaningful.”
Many players on Team 66, had dads who once played as a Tipton Cardinal, celebrating with their sons in this win.
Some, like Coach McGwire Dean, decided to use the game to start his family with a surprise proposal to his girlfriend, Abbie Jefferies, in front of players, coaches and fans.
“The seniors keep asking me when I was going to propose, so at the beginning of the year I told them if they win a state title, I would then.” said Dean. “At first I just said it to get them to leave me alone but closer to the end of the season, I started looking for a ring.”
Dean bough a ring after the West Platte game, surprising Abbie, who had no idea.
“She was shocked at the number of people who knew what was coming after we won and appreciates all the congrats from the community,” said Dean.
Season wrap up
The Cardinals have had a full schedule, with a last minute change two weeks into the season.
Tipton started at California, a Class 3 team, taking the 50-0 win over the Pintos, while this “old rivalry” was fun for a lot to see come back, they do not look to be back on next season’s schedule.
The second week was originally scheduled to be played against Lincoln, but with their team moving to 8-man football, the Cardinals picked up a game with Fair Grove, Class 2, at home, ending in a 28-21 win for Tipton.
The only loss for the Cardinal came in week 3, hosting Lamar, Class 2. Tipton, fell 21-7, but was a closer game then last year’s, with the Cardinals coming home with a 44-0 loss.
Week 4 was a home game against Lighthouse Senior High, a Home School Association team, taking a 42-0 win.
Homecoming was held Friday, Oct. 3, with the Cardinals playing a Central State 8 opponent, Class 1 Fayette. Ben Bestgen and Chance Petree were named king and prince and helped their Tipton team end with a 79-8 win.
Another big conference win came the following week against Linn, Class 1, where 12 seniors football boys, and the senior band and cheerleaders walked onto the field with their parents, followed by a 77-8 win.
Week 8 saw the Cardinals on the road to Russellville, a conference opponent, taking the 52-0 win.
Regular season ended at South Callaway, the final conference school, Class 2, with Tipton coming out on top 30-8, claiming the Class 1 District 7 championship title for the second year in-a-row, and the Central State 8 Conference Title.
The Cardinals earned a bye for the first week of the playoffs, giving them an extra week of practice and enjoying a steak dinner at the park for their hard work.
The playoff games started with hosting Skyline, and taking the 60-20 win.
Tipton continued in their bracket, hosting Russellville for their second meet up of the season, ending with a 53-18 win.
Tipton moved on to play at Thayer, a three and a half hour trip down south. Tipton has ran across this team a few times in the past, only beating them one other time, and Tipton did it once again in cold, wet weather on dirt field, winning, 22-14.
Tipton earned the chance to come back home to host West Platte for the quarterfinal game.
With rain hitting the Tipton area the week before the game, the Cardinals had been invited to use the turf field at Versailles High School to get their practices in, a change of pace for our home dirt field.
Leading up the to Saturday game, rain fell on the field the Friday evening before and all through out the morning and the game on Saturday, Both teams came out of that game with a shade of brown jerseys and Tipton on top 26-0, landing them in the Show-Me Bowl game.
Tipton was welcomed that evening with a line of cars on Highway 50 in town, escorted by Tipton Police officers and Tipton Fire trucks as they entered the city and fireworks greeting them.
An assembly was held Wednesday, Dec. 3, in the Tipton Elementary gym where fans were able to watch highlights of the team, two signed helmets were auctioned off with Andy Bixler and Lori Bestgen each buying one. The players then ended with signing autographs for a gym full of fans.
In the past
This is Tipton Cardinal’s 66th football season, starting in 1959. There have been many teams that have made it tow the district title, made it to the semi-finals and a few have made it to the quarter finals. When you looked into the crowd on Friday, you could see plenty of old players from many different generations of Tipton Cardinal football history.
Coach Duke is the 16th coach for the program.
Jack Luschen coached in 1959, followed by Bob Powers in 1960, Roger McCoy, 1961, Herb Sisco, 1962-65, Nelson Kohler, 1966-68, Ron Custer, 1969-76. Gary Marriott, 1977-78, Doug Hedrick, 1978-81, Stan Varner, 1982-84, Mick Arnold, 1985-89, David Kluck, 1990, Micah Uptergrove, 1991-93, Ted Michael, 1994-95, Martin Bowie, 1996-97, and Tony Braby, 1998-2020.
From the Mayor
City of Tipton Mayor Mark Hampton expressed how proud he was of Tipton.
“For the City to boast this achievement is fantastic,” said Hampton. “But as a parent, to know that these young men were given the affirmation that if they dedicate themselves and persevere through adversity that greatness can be achieved is priceless. I’m beyond proud of these coaches and young men.”
