Blu-Jays beat Northeast-Arma, travel to West Elk Tuesday

PLEASANTON, Kan. -- Pleasanton defeated Northeast-Arma, 53-0, Thursday night to wrap up second place in Kansas Class 2-1A District 7 and the playoff berth that goes with it. The Blu-Jays (7-2) will travel to Howard, Kan., to face West Elk in a Bi-District Playoff Game Tuesday night at 7 p.m.

Pleasanton went to Howard to face West Elk on Oct. 3 and defeated the Patriots 42-12.

The Blu-Jays held Northeast (0-9) to just 22 yards of total offense and two first downs while generating 366 yards of their own. T.J. Davis rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown while Kolbee McKee rushed for 95 yards and passed for another 73.

Davis scored Pleasanton's first touchdown on a one-yard run with 5:52 left in the first period. McKee threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Bryan Gilbert for the Jays' second score, making it 13-0 after one period.

David Sowards had a 28-yard TD reception to start the second quarter. Then Tyler Myrick had a one-yard touchdown run and Daniel Barber scored from 12 yards out to make it a 32-0 lead at halftime.

Barber scored on a five-yard run in the third quarter to make it 39-0. In the final stanza, Gannon Coffman scored on a one-yard run and Barber hauled in a 25-yard scoring strike from Myrick.

Pleasanton head coach Chris Brindle said it is believed that this is the Blu-Jays' first playoff berth as an 11-man team since 1978. In the years since then, Pleasanton has qualified for eight-man playoffs several ties, reaching the Sub-State round twice.