By Scott Hansen
MaxPreps.com
Pierce claimed the No. 1 vs. No. 2 battle of the titans behind the running of junior Eric Koehlmoos. Koehlmoos rushed for 105 yards and three touchdowns as the second-ranked Bluejays cracked the Hastings St. Cecilia supercode in the victory.
Hastings St. Cecilia's defensive unit allowed just seven points the entire season heading into the contest. Koehlmoos' 25-yard fourth quarter touchdown run and two-point conversion run extended the Bluejay lead to the final count of 29-15.
St. Cecilia quarterback Jono Schwenka threw for 105 yards and a touchdown, while star Riley Nikkila was held to just 100 total yards on 16 touches.
It does not get any easier for Pierce in the Class C-1 quarterfinals as they will host 9-1 Hastings Adams Central. Adams Central's lone loss of the season came to St. Cecilia, 7-0.
Elkhorn Rallies to Down Skutt
Sophomore Trevor Roach scored on an 8-yard touchdown run to cap-off Elkhorn's 14-point fourth quarter rally as the Antlers defeated Omaha Skutt, 37-33.
Trailing 33-23, quarterback Jared Brill hit tight end Jake Long on a 30-yard touchdown pass to pull the Antlers to within three after a successful PAT. Brill threw for 213 yards and three touchdowns for 10-0 Elkhorn. Long caught six passes for 117 yards and two touchdowns.
Skutt trailed 23-14 in the third quarter before unleashing a rally of its own. Nick Anderson, Bo Bohan, and Austin Cole all rushed for touchdowns to give Skutt a lead they could not hold onto.
Elmwood-Murdock Squeaks Past Howells
Elmwood-Murdock turned to its defense once again, posting its eighth shutout of the season over top-ranked Howells to claim a 3-0 victory. It would be Howells' last season in Class C-2 before a drop to eight-man looms in 2008. Many had considered Howells one of the favorites to claim the state title before its drop.
Kevin Zoz provided the only points of the game with 2:40 remaining in the fourth quarter on a field goal from 24 yards for Elmwood-Murdock. The only loss of the season for Elmwood-Murdock was in the season-opener to third-ranked Fremont Bergan, 20-0.
Pleasanton's Amazing Comeback in Eight-Man
Pleasanton trailed in its Eight Man-2 quarterfinal against Spalding/Spalding Academy in the second quarter, 26-6. Enter Trey Shafto and Jordan Axmann into the equation. Behind the running of Shafto and Axmann, Pleasanton rallied to win 52-34. Both Shafto and Axmann rushed for 152 yards in the victory.
Class C-2 Darkhorses Come Through
Burwell and Creighton continued its respective paths into the Class C-2 quarterfinals after entering the West Bracket as darkhorses.
Burwell entered the playoffs with a 5-3 record and continued its trek with a 14-7 victory over Superior. Burwell quarterback Brandon Buhlke scored the game-winning touchdown from 2-yards out for Burwell.
Creighton entered the postseason with a 4-4 record and turned away Garden County, 35-22. Bryce Mitteis rushed for 161 yards and a touchdown for the Bulldogs, while Trevor Wieblehaus chipped in with a 101-yard performance and three touchdowns.
PrimeTime Performers
Travis Morrow- Hastings: The Tigers avenged a loss within a week with a 35-14 victory over Seward. Morrow was a major reason why. The fullback rushed for 141 yards on 11 carries and a pair of touchdowns.
Jared Brill- Elkhorn: Brill threw for 213 yards and three touchdowns as Elkhorn downed Omaha Skutt, 37-33. Brill also picked off two passes for the Antlers in the victory.
Brandon Winklemann- Omaha Gross: Winklemann rushed for 144 yards and two touchdowns in a 28-7 victory over Norris. Winklemann touchdown runs covered 50 and 52 yards for the Cougars.
Justin Coleman- Beatrice: Coleman returned the opening kickoff 99 yards to set the pace in a 42-24 victory over Waverly. Coleman followed it up with 126 yards rushing and two touchdowns for the Orangemen.
Jason Luong- Cozad: Luong rushed for 211 yards and three touchdowns for the Haymakers in a 35-28 victory over Scottsbluff.
Colton Ehler- Scottsbluff: Ehler threw for 240 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-28 loss to Cozad.
Kevin Lenneman- Hastings Adams Central: Kevin Lenneman tallied five total touchdowns to give Adams Central the victory over previously-unbeaten Chadron, 35-13. Lenneman rushed for 153 yards and two touchdowns, hauled both of his receptions for touchdowns, and returned a kickoff 47 yards for a score.
Adam Vogt- Syracuse: In a 42-21 victory over Arlington, the quarterback rushed for 205 yards and two touchdowns as the Rockets led 30-0 at halftime. Vogt also connected on a 13-yard touchdown pass to round out the first half scoring for Syracuse.
Brandon Faimon- Blue Hill: Blue Hill remained unbeaten behind 209 rushing yards and three touchdowns from Faimon in a 28-6 victory over Plainview.
Chad Koch- Hartington CC: Koch rushed for 256 yards on 36 carries and added a touchdown in a 14-7 victory over Crofton.
Jordan Makovicka- East Butler: Makovicka gave East Butler fans a performance to remember in a 35-19 loss to Fremont Bergan. Makovicka rushed for 152 yards rushed for and a touchdown, caught a touchdown pass, and threw another for the Tigers in a losing effort.
Class B
First Round Oct. 31
McCook 42, Alliance 6
Hastings 35, Seward 14
Aurora 27, Ogallala 24
Cozad 35, Scottsbluff 28
Crete 49, Schuyler 0
Elkhorn 37, Omaha Skutt 33
Omaha Gross 28, Norris 7
Beatrice 42, Waverly 24
Notes
John Leverson rushed for 113 yards on five carries and two touchdowns as Crete drilled Schuyler, 49-0.
McCook's Matt Berry rushed for a pair of long touchdown runs and opened the scoring on a 10-yard pass to budding star Tyrone Sellers.
Quarterback Jordan Bart and preferred target Bryce Arndt hooked up for two touchdown passes for Aurora in its narrow victory.
Quarterfinals Nov. 5
Hastings (8-2) at McCook (10-0), 5 p.m.
Aurora (6-4) at Cozad (7-3), 6 p.m.
Elkhorn (10-0) at Crete (10-0), 7 p.m.
Omaha Gross (10-0) at Beatrice (8-2), 7 p.m.
Class C-1
Second Round Oct. 31
Norfolk Catholic 41, Grand Island CC 17
Boone Central 17, Crofton 14
Pierce 29, Hastings SC 15
Adams Central 35, Chadron 19
Wahoo Neumann 28, Douglas County West 13
Syracuse 42, Arlington 21
Bennington 38, Columbus Scotus 0
West Point-Beemer 15, Boys Town 12
Notes:
Quarterfinals Nov. 5
Boone Central (9-1) at Norfolk Catholic (9-1), 7 p.m.
Adams Central (9-1) at Pierce (10-0), 5 p.m.
West Point-Beemer (8-2) at Bennington (9-1), 7 p.m.
Syracuse (6-4) at Wahoo Neumann (10-0), 7 p.m.
Class C-2
Second Round Oct. 31
Cambridge 36, Kearney Catholic 16
Burwell 14, Superior 7
Creighton 35, Garden County 22
Blue Hill 28, Plainview 6
Fremont Bergan 35, East Butler 19
Hartington Cedar Catholic 14, Stanton 7
Wakefield 35, Laurel-Concord 0
Elmwood-Murdock 3, Howells 0
Quarterfinals Nov. 5
Burwell (7-3) at Cambridge (10-0), 5 p.m.
Creighton (6-4) at Blue Hill (10-0), 5 p.m.
Hartington CC (9-1) at Fremont Bergan (10-0), 6 p.m.
Wakefield (10-0) at Elmwood-Murdock (9-1), 6:30 p.m.
Eight Man-1
Second Round Oct. 31
Hayes Center 35, Stuart 20
Elwood 50, Leyton 32
Wauneta-Palisade 44, Maxwell 26
Elgin Pope John 28, Palmer 24
Humboldt-TR-S 30, Mead 22, OT
Clarkson 38, Bruning-Davenport 0
Nebraska City Lourdes 14, Newman Grove 8
Humphrey St. Francis 30, Bancroft-Rosalie 14
Quarterfinals Nov. 5
Clarkson (8-2) at Humboldt-TR-S (10-0), 5 p.m.
Humphrey St. Francis (9-1) at NC Lourdes (9-1), 5 p.m.
Elwood (10-0) at Hayes Center (10-0), 5 p.m.
Wauneta-Palisade (8-2) at Elgin Pope John (10-0), 4 p.m.
Eight Man-2
Second Round Oct. 31
Chambers 47, Potter-Dix 24
West Boyd 26, Mullen 0
Pleasanton 52, Spalding/Spalding Academy 34
Wallace 32, Bertrand 30
Dodge 54, Shickley 6
Lawrence-Nelson 42, Falls City 40
Elgin 66, Allen 28
Ewing 18, Hampton 14
Quarterfinals Nov. 5
West Boyd (7-3) at Chambers (9-1), 6:30 p.m.
Pleasanton (9-1) at Wallace (7-3), 3 p.m.
Lawrence-Nelson (8-2) at Dodge (9-1), 3 p.m.
Elgin (10-0) at Ewing (9-1), 7 p.m.
