By The Hays Daily News

OAKLEY -- The Ellis High School football team's run of Class 2-1A playoff berths came to dramatic end Friday in Oakley.

After battling back from a 12-0 deficit to force overtime, the Railraoders fell short as Oakley's Key Keller scored from a yard out after Ellis had failed to score in OT.

The loss by the Railers ends a run of nine straight playoff berths and six consecutive district championships. Oberlin-Decatur Community takes the district's second playoff spot and will travel to Meade in the first round Friday. Oakley, the district champion, hosts Stanton County.

Oakley (8-1) took a 12-0 lead in the second quarter, but Ellis scored a TD in each of the third and fourth quarters, one a 53-yard run by quarterback Blake Hudson, the other a 4-yard pass from Hudson to Gage Younger with 9:24 left in regulation.

At Medicine Lodge, La Crosse capped its perfect regular season with a 56-8 win against Medicine Lodge to move to 9-0. The Leopards will host Ell-Saline in the first round of the 2-1A playoffs Friday.

Kip Keeley had 135 rushing yards, two rushing TDs, and a reception for a score for the Leopards. Sophomore quarterback Jack Garcia threw for 169 yards and four scores.