By Larry Duling
GIBSON CITY – Mitch McNutt ran for two touchdowns and the Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley defense forced four El Paso-Gridley turnovers as the Falcons stormed to a 42-7 win in the Class 2A quarterfinals.
GCMS jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter on a Nathan Garard 24-yard pass to Lane Short.
PODCAST: Listen to the postgame interview with GCMS coach Mike Allen.
https://audioboom.com/posts/6480218-mike-allen-gcms-high-school-football-coach-11-11-17
McNutt finished with 65 yards rushing and had TD runs of 27 in quarter one and 35 yds in the second period.
The Falcons special teams added a score on Austin Spiller’s kickoff return fumble recovery.
Jarad Trantina added a 61-yard TD run and the Falcons defense contributed with Bruce Barnes intercepting a screen pass and going 20 yards to make it 42-0 at halftime.
The Titans’ (7-5) only score came in the fourth quarter. Jarrin Landin hit Sawyer Schliph with a 12-yard scoring pass.
Ryan Faulk led the Titans with 85 yards rushing on 22 carries.
GCMS(12-0) will host Sterling-Newman in the 2A semifinals next Saturday.
Larry Duling can be reached at larry.duling@cumulus.com.
