By CONOR NICHOLL

cnicholl@dailynews.net

KINSLEY – The Thomas More Prep-Marian football team came close to winning its season opener for the first time since 2003. However, several penalties, a missed two-point conversion and a unique blocked punt led to a 15-13 road loss to Kinsley.

The two teams were tied at seven after the first half. TMP-Marian had several clock-eating drives that were halted deep in Kinsley territory, several because of penalties.

In the third quarter, the Monarchs forced Kinsley to punt from its own 19-yard line. TMP-Marian junior linebacker Preston Werth and Kinsley senior punter Dwight Wetzel picked up the bouncing ball. Wetzel raced down the left sideline and gained a first down.

A few plays later, running back Jordan Ebert broke a 50-yard run, the game’s longest play, and Kinsley converted the two-point conversion. TMP-Marian scored again on a quarterback sneak by Sean Conway from two yards out, but senior running back Clint Taylor was stopped on the two-point conversion.

Kinsley, a Class 2-1A school, chewed the final 7:11 on running plays. Taylor led the Monarchs with 168 rushing yards on 30 carries.

TMP-Marian will head home next Friday for a 7 p.m. game against 2-1A Ness-Dighton.