TOPEKA, Kan. — The Hutchinson Salthawks lost to the Topeka Trojans 45-43 in the last seconds of Friday’s game.

Hutchinson’s Damon Cantu scored an 8-yard rushing touchdown seven minutes into the game to open scoring.

With four minutes to go in the first quarter, Hutchinson’s Patrick Graebner slid in a 3-yard touchdown run to put the Salthawks up 14-0.

Hutchinson’s running back Brayden Rogers got a 15-yard rushing touchdown five minutes into the second quarter. That run put the Salthawks up 21-0.

Less than a minute later, Topeka’s D’Anthony Fulton scored the Trojans’ first touchdown of the night. The 69-yard rush made the score 21-6.

With two minutes left in the second quarter, Hutchinson’s Trevor Rhoades had a 1-yard burst to give the Salthawks a 28-6 advantage.

Topeka kicked a 32-yard field goal with under a minute left before halftime to make the score 28-9 at intermission.

Three minutes into the third quarter, Topeka’s Jacqez Barksdale rushed for a 35-yard touchdown. That cut Hutchinson’s lead to 12.

Topeka’s Fulton slipped past Hutchinson with a 6-yard touchdown run and cut the Salthawk advantage to five.

Patrick Graebner pushed Hutchinson’s lead back to 12 on a 1-yard run.

Only minutes into the fourth, Topeka cut the Hutchinson advantage to 35-30 on a 1-yard touchdown run by Jacqez Barksdale.

Three minutes later, Barksdale went for another touchdown, this time from 66-yards out. The TD and failed two-point conversion put Topeka up by one.

Topeka’s Fulton scored his third touchdown of the night with a 4-yard rush. The Trojans took a 42-35 lead.

Hutchinson pushed back with a 4-yard touchdown run from Patrick Graebner with two minutes to go. Graebner then scored the two-point conversion to give Hutchinson a 43-42 lead.

However, with one last push, Topeka kicked a 23-yard field goal to beat Hutchinson.

Coach Mike Vernon talked about the overall season:

 

The Salthawks finish the season 2-7.