By Brennan Dial

Undefeated Bishop Miege had to make its longest trip of the season to compete in Friday’s Sectionals game at Fort Scott. But any doubts head coach Jon Holmes had about his team’s ability to stay focused with the travel breaking their normal game routine were quickly erased as his team trounced the Tigers with a 47-0 win that sends the Stags into 4A Division 1 Substate play against 10-1 Piper on Friday.

“I was a little nervous, having to travel a bit,” Head Coach Jon Holmes said about the road trip to Fort Scott. “But our guys came out the way we thought they would and were able to do it at a high level tonight.”

The freezing temperatures didn’t seem to bother the Stags, either, with Miege coming out the gate hot, scoring quickly with a nine-yard touchdown run from junior back Dawson Downing. In fact, as the temperatures fell, Miege only seemed to get better. Two minutes after the first touchdown, sophomore wide receiver Jafar Armstrong roped in a 25 yard jump ball pass from senior quarterback Ryan Willis, putting the Stags up 12-0.

“I knew this could be my last game.” Armstrong said after the game. “I just wanted to make sure I did my job and executed the game plan to get the win.”

The Stags utterly dominated the first half, even kicking an onside kick and recovering it with 25 yards separating Miege from the endzone. They needed just four plays to convert the onside kick into a touchdown, with Willis scoring on a 23-yard keeper. They finished the half up 40-0. A 49-yard run from junior wide receiver Nolan Gray in was Miege’s biggest offensive play of the game.

With the shutout win over the Tigers, the Stags earned the right to host next week’s Substate matchup – the first time since 1994 Stags fans will get to cheer on their team at home for Substate.

“Its going to be big for us,” Holmes said about facing Piper. “Especially getting to do it at home. We haven’t got to host many of those games. Our kids are looking forward to it.”

Armstrong said Piper will be a formidable opponent.

“We know Piper is a very good team,” Armstrong said. “We are going to prepare for this game like we have every game this year by studying their film and a great week of practice.”