Big Plays Sink Sidney 38-28

Sidney’s 2-and-0 Red Raider Football team traveled to Cozad Friday to face the 2-and-0 Haymakers, and a hot and humid evening and a relentless Haymaker running attack combined to turn a one point Sidney lead at halftime into a 10 point loss at the final gun. Sidney’s defense dug in and got the stops they needed in the first half, but eventually wore down and couldn’t contain the big plays in the second half to secure the win.

The Cozad defense set the tone at the start, stacking up against the Sidney run game and forcing three-and-outs on Sidney’s first two possessions. Cozad’s second possession started on the Red Raider 42 yard line, and a big run by sophomore Dreu White brought the Haymakers deep into Sidney territory. A few plays later, senior quarterback Nolan Wetovick found senior tight end Paul Cole in the end zone and connected for a nine yard touchdown, and Cozad led 6-to-0 after a failed point-after try. Sidney got the ball back and started to drive when senior running back Nathan Kennedy fumbled, and Cozad recovered at midfield. The Haymakers drove, and scored a touchdown on the first play of the second quarter; a five yard run up the middle by Wetovick, and after another failed point-after attempt, Cozad led 12-to-0.

Sidney started their next drive on their own 35 yard line, and a series of runs gained first downs and moved the Red Raiders into scoring position. Senior Austin Wolfe then was able to turn the corner on the right side and break a 20 yard run for a touchdown, and after a failed two-point attempt, Sidney narrowed the Cozad lead to 12-to-6. Cozad started their next seres on their own 25, but a sack on first down by sophomore Boone Hicks lost Cozad five yards and fired up the Red Raider defense, forcing a three-and-out. After the punt, Sidney started at their own 46 yard line and on third down, sophomore Luke Holly took the ball around the end, made a cutback, then outran the Haymaker secondary for a 59 yard touchdown. Sophomore Isak Doty kicked the point after to give Sidney a 13-to-12 lead with about four minutes left in the half. Cozad was able to drive and pick up a few first downs, but the drive ultimately stalled and forced a punt down to the Sidney 15 yard line. Sidney ran the ball and picked up a fourth and one for a first down to run out the clock and take a lead into halftime.

With Cozad receiving to start the second half, Sidney tried an onside kick, which was very successful in a similar situation during the Bridgeport game, but this time the ball failed to go 10 yards and Cozad started on the Sidney 44 yard line. Cozad then went on a short drive, capped by a 21 yard touchdown run by Wetovick, and after a failed point after attempt, Cozad had re-taken the lead, 18-to-13. Sidney’s next possession ended with a three-and-out and a punt to the Cozad 45 yard line. The remainder of the quarter had both teams trading punts while keeping the ball near mid-field. In the beginning of the fourth quarter, a misfire on a punt attempt gave the Haymakers good field position, and they quickly took advantage with a 33 yard touchdown scamper by Wetovick and a successful two point attempt to expand their lead to 26-to-13. Sidney’s defense was clearly beginning to wear down after chasing Wetovick for three quarters.

Sidney’s offense did exactly what they needed on their next possession with a six play, 80 yard drive for a touchdown. The drive was highlighted by a big run by Holly for 58 yards in which he fumbled at the end of the run, but Sidney senior Connor Uhrig trailed the play and recovered the fumble, which then set up a three yard touchdown plunge by Kennedy. Doty’s point-after kick was good, so the Red Raiders narrowed the lead to 26-to-20.  But Cozad immediately responded with a first down run by Wetovick that he broke for 67 yards and a touchdown, giving the Haymakers six more points and a 32-to-20 lead. Sidney was unable to get anything going on their next possession, and a short punt gave Cozad great field position again, at the Sidney 38 yard line. After two runs, Cozad senior Jacob Weatherly broke a 35 yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 38-to-20. Sidney was able to respond with a drive that ended with a 12 yard touchdown run by Wolfe, but Cozad was able to then burn the time away and Sidney fell by a final score of 38-to-28.

Wetovick torched the Raiders, rushing for 145 yards on 10 attempts, scoring four touchdowns and throwing for another. Wetovick threw for 107 yards on 11 completions and 20 attempts on the night.

For Sidney, Luke Holly led the rushing attack with 14 rushes for 95 yards and a touchdown. Austin Wolfe had seven carries for 48 yards and two touchdowns in the loss. Quarterback Isak Doty only attempted seven passes, with one completion for one yard in the game.

Sidney Head Coach Todd Ekhart commented after the game about how proud he was of the effort the team gave and how they kept fighting throughout the game, but just came up short and gave it their all. Ekhart mentioned that Cozad added option plays that Sidney had never seen before in the second half, which was a big factor in the outcome of the game. The 2-and-1 Red Raiders next host Holdredge for Homecoming on Friday night in Sidney.