Second-half rampage leads Sidney to huge district win

Sidney High football head coach Todd Ekart had a simple message for his team at halftime of last Friday's game at Alliance.

He reminded them during the intermission, "We lose and our season is done after next week."

That was all the Red Raiders needed to hear. After taking a tie into the break, Sidney used a 44-point second half surge to get a critical win against district-rival Alliance, 58-36.

Junior running back Jake Heeren finished with 207 yards rushing on 28 carries and four second-half TDs. It was his second consecutive 200-yard game and he is now Sidney's leading rusher on the season.

The Red Raiders (6-2, 1-1) hit the road to play winless Gering (0-8, 0-2) this Friday in their final regular-season game. A Sidney win – along with an Alliance loss to Scottsbluff – earns a berth in the Class B state playoffs, which begin Oct. 31.

Ekart said his team still has some work to do, especially on kickoff coverage. But the result was what was most important to him.

"We're happy to get the win," Ekart said. "I thought the offense and defense played well. But our kickoff return was terrible and put us in some bad situations."

Sidney's offense struggled during the opening half, which led to a 14-14 deadlock through two quarters.

On Sidney's first possession of the game, senior quarterback Lane Harvey was intercepted after his pass was tipped at the line. Its second series resulted in a punt after picking up just 30 yards. The game was scoreless after the first quarter.

Senior Michael Muggli got the Red Raiders on the scoreboard less than a minute into the second quarter with a sweeping 31-yard run around the edge. The two-point try was good and Sidney led 8-0.

Harvey scored from one yard out later in the quarter that left the teams tied at the break. Sidney running back Hunter Secrest injured his left ankle late in the half and did not return.

"At halftime, we obviously weren't happy with ourselves," said Harvey, who was 6-for-13 passing for 133 yards, a TD, and two interceptions on the night. "So, we just said we're going to go pound it and started moving the ball a lot faster. They (Alliance) got tired and we didn't."

"Hunter went down and our third-string running back had to come in," Heeren said. "(Assistant coach Brandon) Ross told me I was going to get the ball many times and I just had to keep pounding through the defense and follow the blockers."

Alliance got the ball to start the second half and scored on a 24-yard pass from Baden Shelmadine to running back Cody Robinson. The TD capped a 13-play, 73-yard drive that ate up the first 4:08 of the second half.

Sidney responded with a heavy dose of Heeren out of the backfield. He ran six times for 35 yards and a score, as the Red Raiders took a 22-21 lead with a successful two-point conversion about two minutes later.

Later in the quarter, Sidney recovered a muffed punt and took over on the Alliance 10. The Red Raiders capitalized when Heeren crossed the goal line again, giving them a 28-21 lead after a failed two-point try.

On the next possession, the Sidney defense had the Bulldogs in a fourth down and one situation on their own 48-yard line. But Robinson busted around the edge for 52-yard TD run that tied the game 28-28 after the extra point.

Sidney's next drive was one of the best of its season. Heeren pounded out 45 yards on five carries, and Harvey connected with Muggli for a 27-yard strike over the middle. The Red Raiders re-captured the lead at 36-28 when Heeren's scored his third TD of the half.

Following an Alliance punt, Sidney took over with good field position its own 45. Five plays later from the Alliance 42, Heeren ran into the middle of the pile and fumbled. But teammate Tyler Wintholz emerged with the ball and covered 42 yards down the sideline for the score. The two-point try was successful and the Red Raiders had a 44-28 lead.

Alliance struck back quickly though. Shelmadine then hit Brody Brennan for a 64-yard pass that set up a Bulldogs TD three plays later. That left the Red Raiders clinging to a 44-36 lead with 7:38 remaining.

Alliance attempted an onside kick after its score, but Sidney recovered on its own 46. Heeren found the end zone one final time – this time on 54-yard run up the middle. After another successful two-point conversion, Sidney restored its lead to 52-36.

After an 81-yard kickoff return by Brennan, Alliance again threatened. With the Bulldogs facing a fourth and goal from the Sidney 18, Harvey intercepted a Shelmadine pass intended in the end zone.

Sidney moved the ball 30 yards on the ground and ran off some of the clock before Harvey hooked up with Wintholz for a 50-yard pass that sealed the 58-36 win for the Red Raiders.