Maize achieved the long-wanted win against Derby Sept. 5 with a final score of 20-13.  However it was not an easy win. Derby proved their skills two and a half minutes into the first quarter scoring their first touchdown.

“We didn’t get down on ourselves at the beginning. We threw a pick at the [Derby] game last year and got down on ourselves and we couldn’t get out of that hole,” senior quarterback Connor Lungwitz said.

Maize then fought back in the second quarter and got their first touchdown, tying the game.

The game proved to be a battle as Maize got a touchdown and took the lead 13-6 quickly after the start of the fourth quarter. Derby answered back tying the game 13-13 seven and a half minutes into the quarter. But Maize sealed the deal with the final touchdown pass late into the fourth quarter to end the game.

“We’ve struggled with Derby every year since I’ve been here,” coach Gary Guzman said. “The games haven’t even been close. Coming out here tonight against the defending state champions, [we] were the underdogs which surprised me when I heard about it. Our kids were able to get that monkey off their back.”

The Eagles will be back in action 7 P.M. Friday at Garden City.