By Spring Atchison
Office Manager
Winning Wildcat season closes with Championship showing
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November 30, 2022
(Herald photos by Spring Atchison)
SENIOR NOLAN Japp puts a hit on Stratton ball carrier Cyler Notter in the opening minutes of the State Championship in Pueblo on Friday.
Two out of three is nothing to complain about. And that's what the season came down to for a group of six Fleming Wildcat seniors who, for the third year of their four-year high school football careers, went head-to-head with Stratton for the 6-man State Title.
An exciting semifinal win over third-ranked Granada in overtime gave the Wildcats their spot in the title contest. The win would pit the second ranked Wildcats against the top ranked Stratton Eagles.
Fleming knew they'd have a fight on their hands when they took the field on Friday at CSU-Pueblo's Thunderbowl to face Stratton for the second time this season. Although the Wildcats struck first opening with a touchdown, Stratton would set the pace for the remainder of the game and take the title with an 83-18 victory.
The story of Fleming's season has been one of success. The team went 10-2 prior to the Championship with an 8-man loss to Haxtun and a loss the eventual 6-man State Champs. They held the number two spot in 6-man rankings for the duration of the year behind Stratton who owned the top spot all season.
JUNIOR WYATT Cochran turns to run after making a catch on Friday against Stratton.
It's been a highly decorated career for this year's seniors who made contributions to the Wildcat squads that took back-to-back titles over Stratton in 2019 and 2020. Under the direction of Head Coach John King, who closed out his 19th season with the Wildcats, senior leaders Braylen Feather, Nolan Japp, Blake Feather, Kolten Houser, Harry Harms and Hayden Lockard made their third and final State Championship appearances in last Friday's contest.
The Wildcats averaged 42 points per game in the 13-game season. They gave up an average of just 27 points per game.
According to stats on MaxPreps, the Wildcats rushed for 2,356 yards prior to the Championship game. They added another 1,684 yards on 91 receptions.
Fleming's defense brought down 518 tackles; 69 of those for a loss.
Watch next week's edition of the Herald for this year's All-Conference designations.
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