Editor's note: This is a longer version of a story that appeared in The Standard's Sept. 15 print edition and includes an amended headline. 

For the third straight week, turnovers hurt Excelsior Springs in varsity 11-man football.

Following turnover-plagued losses to Belton and Raytown, the Tigers turned over the ball six times during their 35-7 Sept. 8 Greater Kansas City Suburban Conference-Blue Division road loss to Winnetonka. The first turnover ended Excelsior Springs’ first scoring threat.

With the Tigers eyeing the end zone, junior quarterback Dawson Claypole threw a pass that Nickson Marion intercepted at the Winnetonka 2-yard line. Marion returned it for a 98-yard pick six. An extra-point kick made it 7-0.

Excelsior Springs answered with a seven-play, 71-yard scoring drive. Claypole pushed a pile of players into the end zone for a touchdown. Senior Preston Jones’ point after knotted it at 7.

Quarterback Steven Anderson started Winnetonka’s string of 28 unanswered points with a 64-yard TD run. The point after made it 14-7.

An eight-play Excelsior Springs possession ended with a fumble, recovered by Winnetonka’s Shakir Abdikadir. Abdikadir returned the fumble for a 76-yard scoop-and-score. The Griffins added another extra point and led 21-7 at halftime.

Winnetonka continued its scoring tear in the second half with a nine-play, 56-yard drive, capped by Anderson’s 9-yard TD run and Winnetonka’s extra point. Devon Jacobs’ 2-yard, fourth-quarter TD run and the Griffins’ extra point finished the scoring.

Offensively, Excelsior Springs tallied 260 yards rushing. Claypole led the way with 120 yards and his touchdown on 16 carries. Sophomore Gaige Carr contributed 43 yards on nine carries and junior Carson Jackson contributed 32 yards on eight carries.

Defensively, senior Zeb McBee led Excelsior Springs with 5.5 tackles, followed by senior Jacob Bright and junior Justin Bright with 3.5 each.

The loss contributed to Excelsior Springs’ first 0-3 start since 2011. The Tigers will look to snap their losing skid Friday night, when they host Kearney in Blue Division action.

Kearney (1-2) is coming off a 41-21 road loss to Smithville.