Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Consider how these two scenarios played out last Friday night:
Sidney High School needed a touchdown in the final minutes to pull out a victory against a team on a 21-game losing streak and earn a spot in the Class B state football tournament. Meanwhile, Elkhorn South needed double overtime to cap an undefeated regular season and maintain its No. 1 ranking in several statewide polls.
If you’re a fan of the David vs. Goliath account, stay focused on Friday night’s first-round state playoff game between these two squads.
The Red Raiders (5-4) head east to square off against Elkhorn South (9-0) in one of eight Class B playoff games on tap Friday. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. MDT at Elkorn High School.
Sidney head coach Chris Koozer knows the role his Red Raiders team has been cast into after finishing the season just above .500.
“We’re the underdogs and everybody in the state is expecting them to beat us,” Koozer said. “We will embrace it and try to turn some things loose because all of the pressure is on them.”
The Storm has put up some gaudy numbers en route to their 9-0 record.
They started the season with three consecutive shutouts, outscoring those opponents 143-0. Their offense is averaging 44 points, 286 rushing yards and 150 passing yards per game this fall.
Elkhorn South passed two big tests against state powers the past two Fridays. Last week, it defeated Gretna 28-27 in double overtime and topped Omaha Scutt Catholic 28-23 the previous week. Both of those squads are top-eight seeds in the state tournament.
“Elkhorn South is a very, very good team,” Koozer added. “You’re not going to have the kind of stats they have if you’re not a great team.”
Sophomore running back Moses Bryant has been the Storm’s workhorse out of the backfield, racking up 923 yards and 15 touchdowns on 123 carries. He’s also caught three TD passes. He left last Friday’s game against Gretna in the first quarter with an ankle injury, but all indications are that he’ll be in the lineup against Sidney.
“He’s the kid who has gotten all of the publicity for them,” Koozer said. “He’s a very solid player who we’ll have to find a way to contain.”
Elkhorn South has other options with its ground game as well.
Brayton Haley has rushed for 463 yards and 9 TDs, and junior quarterback Braden Wright has rolled up 530 yards and 6 TDs on 59 carries.
Wright has completed 30 of 63 passes for 537 yards and thrown for eight TDs and just one interception. He stepped in earlier this month to replace the injured Connor Ebeling, who had connected on 47 of 76 attempts for 809 yards, 11 touchdowns and one interception through the Storm’s first five games
“We are just going to go back to what we did in our first three games and that will give us the best chance possible to beat them,” Koozer said.
He’s referring to the Red Raiders’ wins over Chadron (41-7), Adams Central (45-30) and Hastings (38-27) to start the 2015 campaign.
Sidney lost four of its next five games after that before securing a spot in the state tournament with the late comeback last week to beat Gering 13-9.
This is the third consecutive year that the Red Raiders have qualified for the state playoffs, tying a school record.
“We’re a tough team to game plan against because of our misdirection,” Koozer said. “We just have to go back to basics and get our identity back.
“It’ll be important for us to get off to a good start right away in the first quarter,” he said. “Most of our losses have come after we dug ourselves a hole that we couldn’t get out of. Kids thrive on that. If we can go out and get a lead, our kids will have their heads in the game longer.”
NEBRASKA/COLORADO SCHEDULES
CLASS B STATE TOURNAMENT
First-round games
Friday, Oct. 30
All times CDT
No. 16 Alliance (4-5) at No. 1 Aurora (9-0), 2 p.m.
No. 9 Scottsbluff (6-3) at No. 8 Gretna (6-3), 5 p.m.
No. 12 Beatrice (6-3) at No. 5 McCook (8-1), 7 p.m.
No. 13 Bennington (5-4) at No. 4 Plattsmouth (9-0), 7 p.m.
No. 14 Sidney (5-4) at No. 3 Elkhorn South (9-0), 5 p.m.
No. 11 Omaha Roncalli (7-2) at No. 6 York (8-1), 7 p.m.
No. 10 Linc. Pius X (6-3) at No. 7 Grand Island NW (6-3), 7 p.m.
No. 15 Waverly (5-4) at No. 2 Omaha Skutt (8-1), 7 p.m.
CLASS D-2 STATE TOURNAMENT
First-round games
Thursday, Oct. 29
West Bracket
All times CDT unless noted
No. 16 Wallace (3-5) at No. 1 CWC (8-0), 3 p.m.
No. 9 Brady (6-2) at No. 8 Bertrand (5-3), 7 p.m.
No. 12 Mullen (4-4) at No. 5 Stuart (5-3), 7 p.m.
No. 13 Eustis-Farnam (4-4) at No. 4 Ans.-Merna (7-1), 7 p.m.
No. 14 Pleasanton (4-4) at No. 3 Sandhills/Thedford (7-1), 6 p.m.
No. 11 Southwest (6-2) at No. 6 Maxwell (6-2), 7 p.m.
No. 10 Alma (6-2) at No. 7 Crawford (6-2), 1:30 p.m. MDT
No. 15 Leyton (3-5) at No. 2 Garden Co. (8-0), 7 p.m. MDT
East Bracket
No. 16 St. Mary’s (3-5) at No. 1 Hum.-St. Francis (7-1), 6 p.m.
No. 9 Osmond (6-2) at No. 8 Osceola (7-1), 7 p.m.
No. 12 Johnson-Brock (5-3) at No. 5 Randolph (6-2), 3:30 p.m.
No. 13 Emer.-Hubbard (5-3) at No. 4 Sacred Heart (7-1), 3 p.m.
No. 14 Palmer (4-4) at No. 3 Wynot (7-1), 5:30 p.m.
No. 11 Lyons-Dec. NE (5-3) at No. 6 Lawr.-Nelson (7-1), 4 p.m.
No. 10 Giltner (5-3) at No. 7 Kenesaw (6-2), 7 p.m.
No. 15 Sterling (4-4) at No. 2 Exeter-Milligan (7-1), 6:30 p.m.
COLORADO 6-MAN TOURNAMENT
Cross-Divisional games
Friday, Oct. 30
Stratton/Liberty at Fleming, 7 p.m.
Cotopaxi at Pawnee, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 31
Peetz at Cheraw, 1 p.m.
Primero at Kit Carson, 1 p.m.
Briggsdale at La Veta, 1 p.m.
Genoa-Hugo/Karval at Eads, 1 p.m.
Cheyenne Wells at Arickaree/Woodlin, 1 p.m.
Idalia at Hanover, 1 p.m.
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