Undermanned Tigers JV and freshman teams eclipsed by Seneca

Nevada High School junior running back Jaren Powrie, gets to the right edge during Monday night's junior varsity matchup with Seneca. Powrie concluded the home contest with a pair of rushing touchdowns.

Matt Resnick | Daily Mail

The Nevada Tigers junior varsity and freshman football teams were toppled by the Seneca Indians on Monday night at Logan Field.

Prior to the game NHS athletic director, John McNeley, announced that Nevada will compete in only two levels of football this season — varsity and C-team. The C-team will be comprised of JV and freshmen. McNeley said the decision was made by the NHS coaching staff, as early-season injuries have hampered the Tigers overall depth.

Nevada’s freshman game scheduled for next Monday against Cassville has been canceled. Additionally, the Tigers C-team will face the DeSoto (Kan.) High School freshman team in DeSoto on Thursday, Oct. 5. The Nevada-DeSoto JV contest, previously set for Monday, Oct. 2, has been canceled.

Another change to the schedule involves Nevada’s Oct. 9 (Monday) home game with Warrensburg, as the C-team game will be the only one played, kicking off at 5 p.m.

The junior varsity team, in its one and only game this season, was defeated 32-14, while the C-team was edged 12-8 on Monday.

In the JV game, junior running back Jaren Powrie scored on a first half rushing touchdown, and then punched in the two-point conversion. The Tigers (0-1), however, trailed 26-8 at halftime. With 7:05 remaining in the fourth, Powrie took an inside handoff, cut back to the left and scored from three yards out. The two point conversion failed, as Seneca led by the final 18-point margin.

“Jaren’s been coming on,” said Tigers varsity head coach Wes Beachler, who was present for the games.

Beachler added that he’s been impressed with the maturity shown by Powrie.

“He made a mistake tonight and I got on him a little bit about it,” said Beachler. “He’s getting better at dealing with criticism, better at being coached and things like that. I’m proud of him, and he will continue to develop as a football player and as a young man.”

In the freshman game, Nevada's lone scoring play came on a Kaden Denney 67-yard touchdown scamper.

“We have a lot to work on,” said Beachler. “It’s difficult sometimes because they don’t get as many reps as they would like to get in practice. But we still have to be locked in and mentally focused. And when we get a chance to play they have to take advantage of it.”

Added Beachler: “As coaches, we also need to coach the JV and freshman games hard too, so the kids can learn during that experience.”