Buffalos overpower Columbus, claim regional championship

The Prairie View Buffalo football team gathers around the regional championship plaque on Friday, Nov. 8, after knocking off the Columbus Titans 34-13. (Roger Sims / Linn County Journal)

By Roger Sims, rsims@linncountyjournal.com

(Editor's note: The Journal will update this story with more information as soon as it is available.)

The Prairie View Buffalos won the regional championship title on Friday, Nov. 8, by handing the Columbus Titans a 34-13 loss.

The game ended on a controversial play in which Prairie View head coach Kyle Littrell refused to send his team back on the field after officials put 1 second back on the clock after charging the Titans with unsportsmanlike conduct. The officials had ejected a Titan player and Columbus lined up on their own 6 yard line with a third and 45 situation.

Facing no opposition, the Titan quarterback took the snap, and after a moment of uncertainty tossed the ball to a receiver about 10 yards downfield. The receiver seemed to hesitate, unsure of what to do before loping more than 80 yards into the end zone. No point after attempt was made.

The scoreboard remained showing 34-7, but the score posted by the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) posted 13 points the final score for the Titans. It was nonetheless a Prairie View win.

The Buffalos, now 8-2, head to a rematch with Pioneer League rival Wellsville (10-0) next Friday, Nov. 15, in Wellsville. The Eagles, who handed the Buffalos a loss earlier this fall, are the No. 1 seed in the eastern division, and the Buffalos are seeded fourth.

The winner of next Friday's game will take on third-seed Topeka-Hayden or 10th-seed Perry-Lecompton in the substate game. The winner of that game will play for the 3A state championship.