By Scott Hansen
MaxPreps.com
Millard South took another step in ensuring the balance of power in Millard continues to point its direction by kicking off the 2007 season with a 24-14 victory over Millard North. It marks the second consecutive year that the Patriots have opened the season with a victory over their bitter-rival from the north.
A star was born in the victory for Millard South. Sophomore quarterback Bronson Marsh quashed any concerns of a drop-off due to the graduation of Casey Hauptman by throwing for 257 yards and two touchdowns. Marsh also added a 20-yard touchdown run.
Trailing 7-0 after Millard North quarterback Nick Failla opened the scoring with a one-yard touchdown in the first quarter, Marsh went to work. Marsh hit Jordan Hale with a 70-yard touchdown pass, with Jordan Strecker's point after knotting the score at 7-7.
With the game still in question, the Patriots turned to Marsh again to put it away. In the fourth quarter while clinging to a 17-14 lead, Marsh hit Preseason MaxPreps All-State athlete Ty Kildow on a 76-yard touchdown strike. Kildow had 145 receiving yards on just three receptions, while Hale tallied 80 yards on two catches.
Failla did all he could, rushing for 153 yards on 31 carries. With Failla operating the controls, Millard North will still be a threat in 2007. Fullback Rob Pirnie added 86 yards for the Mustangs, who did not complete a pass in the loss.
Millard South will face Omaha Burke on Friday in an attempt to move to 2-0, while Millard North faces Papillion-LaVista.
Eagles soar, nip North
In another budding rivalry, Omaha Central got off to a winning start with a narrow 21-19 victory over Omaha North at Kinnick Stadium.
Central, which came into the game wearing purple helmets with a logo that resembles one of the Philadelphia Eagles instead of their traditional silver helmets, got a stellar performance from senior Ronnell Grixby.
Grixby rushed for 94 yards and two touchdowns in the 21-19 victory, which coincidentally was the exact same score when Omaha North won in 2006.
Shane Prater and quarterback Chris Griffin hooked up on an 18-yard pass for six in the first quarter, while Grixby hit paydirt with a 25-yard run to give Central a 14-6 lead after one quarter.
Omaha Central never trailed in front of a capacity crowd of 4,500. Brenton Bradford and sophomore Ron Coleman both rushed for 52 yards to lead the Vikings.
The Top 10/Class A Rankings by Scott Hansen
Team (Record) Previous
1. Lincoln Southwest (1-0) 1
Beat Papillion-LaVista, 35-14. Brandon Brown rushed for 154 yards, including a 67-yard scamper, to lead the top-ranked Silver Hawks. Graham Stoddard added a 12-yard rushing score and a 20-yard touchdown reception to pace Southwest. Next: Friday at #8 Millard West (1-0).
2. Omaha Westside (1-0) 2
Beat Omaha Burke, 25-0. Kansas commit Tim Biere caught two touchdown passes from the son of a former Kansas basketball star, Ron Kellogg Jr. as the Warriors rolled. Westside added a touchdown from Collins Okafor in the victory. Next: Thursday at Lincoln Southeast (0-1)
3. Millard South (1-0) 4
Beat Millard North, 24-14. Next: at Omaha Burke (0-1).
4. Omaha Central (1-0) NR
Beat Omaha North, 21-19. Next: vs. Omaha Creighton Prep (0-1)
5. Kearney (1-0) NR
Beat Norfolk, 30-0. Brett Maher was one of the top kickers in the state last season, and showed what he's capable of doing with his hands. Maher hauled in a 90-yard touchdown reception, kicked a 47-yard field goal, and booted a PAT in the second quarter alone. Rustin Dring scored two touchdowns and rushed for 72 yards for the defending Class A state champions. Next: Friday at Lincoln Northeast (0-1).
6. Millard North (0-1) 3
Lost to Millard South, 24-14. Next: Friday at Papillion-LaVista (0-1)
7. Omaha North (0-1), NR
Lost to Omaha Central, 21-19. Next: Friday at Bellevue East (0-1)
8. Millard West (1-0), NR
Beat preseason #5 Omaha Creighton Prep, 27-17. Tyler Davis was all over the place for the Wildcats. Davis, a running back, rushed for two touchdowns and added to his breakout performance with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Skelnar as West pulled the upset. Jake Drwal added seven receptions for 100 yards on the evening for the Wildcats. Next: Friday vs. #1 Lincoln Southwest (1-0).
9. Grand Island (1-0) NR
Beat Lincoln High, 24-0. Curtis Hudiburgh broke out with a 70-yard run in the third quarter to break open a 3-0 game as the Islanders prevailed. Mike Tomlin added a second half touchdown for Grand Island. The Islanders rushed for 283 yards in the victory. Next: Friday vs. Lincoln East (1-0)
10. Papillion-LaVista South (1-0) NR
Beat Omaha Benson, 35-15. South exploded out to a 35-0 lead and never looked back. Jared Evridge rushed for three touchdowns on the night, while Michael Burrus added 195 yards and two scores. Next: Friday at Columbus (0-1).
Dropped Out: Omaha Creighton Prep (0-1) 5
Lost to Millard West, 27-17. Next: at #4 Omaha Central (1-0).
Team to Watch: Fremont (1-0) NR
Beat Omaha Northwest, 28-9. Quarterback Evan Harpster, one of the top signal callers in Class A, threw for 134 yards and rushed for two scores to lead the Tigers. Next: Friday at Norfolk (0-1).
Worth noting: Preseason MaxPreps All-State linebacker Jeremy Wallace of Omaha Bryan rushed for 117 yards and three touchdowns in a 28-14 victory over Omaha South. Bryan will travel to Lincoln North Star on Friday, who kicked off their campaign with a 13-12 upset victory over Lincoln Northeast to open their campaign. The victory over Northeast allowed North Star to match their win total from last season.
Scott Hansen: maxprepsok@sbcglobal.net