The Coffeyville Red Ravens football team outlasted the Independence Pirates in an early-season KJCCC rivalry matchup, winning 31-30 at Emmot Field Saturday night.

 

Independence struck first with a long touchdown pass but missed the extra point before Coffeyville answered less than three minutes later. Quarterback John Nicholas connected with Bralin Preston on a 17-yard touchdown pass, giving Preston his first touchdown reception of the season and putting the Red Ravens ahead.

 

Coffeyville added to its lead with a two-yard touchdown run from TJ Ward at the 5:14 mark of the first quarter, but Independence answered on the very next play with a 75-yard touchdown pass. The Pirates missed the extra point again, leaving Coffeyville with a 14-12 lead.

 

Coffeyville extended its lead to 28-12 before halftime on touchdown passes of six and 37 yards to Messiah Cage and Jayden Howard. Independence tightened up defensively in the second half, cutting the deficit to eight on its opening possession of the third quarter before Adrian Hemelt pushed the Red Ravens’ lead back to two scores with a 20-yard field goal.

 

The Pirates continued to chip away, cutting the lead to four on a 12-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter. Coffeyville’s defense then came up with a huge stand, moving Independence backward on three straight plays after the Pirates reached first-and-goal and forcing a long field-goal attempt, which Independence converted with 7:23 remaining to make it a one-point game.

 

Coffeyville and Independence traded empty possessions down the stretch, but a pass interference penalty on third-and-long inside Pirates territory gave the Red Ravens a fresh set of downs inside the final 90 seconds. Coffeyville then took three knees in victory formation to run out the clock and secure its first win of the season.

 

The victory moves Coffeyville to 1-2 overall and 1-0 in the KJCCC. The Red Ravens will host Iowa Central next Saturday at Veterans Memorial Stadium, with pregame coverage beginning at 12:30 p.m. and kickoff set for 1 p.m. on US 98.