The storied career of Rural Vista Head Coach Jeff Hostetter came to a close tonight in White City as the Heat fell to the Centre Cougars 36-34. Centre finished the season 4-4 while Rural Vista dropped their final three games to finish 5-4. Neither team made the postseason as both were part of 8-Man 1 District 4 which has had four different teams ranked at various parts of the season. Burlingame is the district champion with their 46-0 victory at Herington tonight while Clifton-Clyde made it in to the postseason as the runner up in the district.
Hostetter, spent 25 years in Hope and the last three years as the head coach of Rural Vista when Hope combined with White City for athletics. He leaves the game with 221 victories, 21 playoff appearances, 4 runner up finishes and a state title in 2003 at Hope.
In the game tonight Centre never trailed. Rural Vista was able to tie the game on a Trace Hostetter to Cade Stilwell 38 yard touchdown pass play with 5:17 to play in the third quarter at 28.
The Cougars would respond with a Max Svoboda 6 yard touchdown run with 2:06 left in the third quarter. Quarterback Dylan Deines would connect with Cole Methvin on the two point conversion to give Centre the lead for good at 36-28.
Rural Vista would score the final points of the game on an Eli Fleming 7 yard touchdown run with 10:04 to play. The conversion would fail to make the final 36-34. Fleming, a junior running back, scored four touchdowns on the night.
The Heat would have their chances late as they drove down to the Centre 6 yard line only to turnover the football on an interception with 1:49 to play. Rural Vista would get the ball back with no time outs with 38 seconds left and drove to the Centre 37 yard line but the Heat’s Hail Mary attempt at the end of the game came up empty.
Rural Vista racked up 462 yards unofficially with most of it coming through the air. Senior Quarterback Trace Hostetter passed for 390 yards and 2 touchdowns and one interception. His favorite target was Senior Cade Stilwell, who caught 13 passes for 204 yards.
Centre on the other hand used their ground game. The Cougars had 423 yards unofficially. Junior Running Back Max Svoboda had 29 carries for 152 yards and 4 rushing touchdowns and caught 2 passes including a 53 yard score
