North Platte used a punishing ground game, to walk away with a hard fought, 30-26 victory over Mid Buchanan. Before the game, North Platte, head coach, Jared Quigley, talked about his teams, senior leadership.
“We have had some adverse situations, throughout the season, and those seniors have led the way for us,” Quigley said. “As far as, how to react and respond to those situations.”
Senior quarterback Colton Kirkham, and senior running back Liam Servaes, definitely led the way, with sophomore running back Dylan Armstrong, completing these three headed attacks.
The Mid Buchanan Dragons received the opening kickoff and went right down the field, with quarterback Raife Smith, scoring on a 6 yard keeper. Jackson Sauvage split the uprights on the conversion.
North Platte answered, right away, when Servaes, broke through the line and rumbled 46 yards for the score. The two-point pass was incomplete.
Servaes, found pay-dirt in the second quarter, this time from 6 yards out. Dylan Armstrong took a direct snap, for the two-point conversion. The Panthers went to halftime leading 14-7.
The Panthers struck quickly in the third quarter. Armstrong scored, on a 4-yard run. Then went behind center and took a direct snap and scored the two point conversion as well. Panthers led 22-7.
Momentum switched quickly, when the Dragons, Ian Wegenka, on a 6 yard run. Sauvage’s kick, made the score 22-14. Then Sauvage, executed a perfect, middle onside kick, that was recovered by the Dragons. Wegenka had to struggle but he crossed the goal line, from 1 yard out. Smith tried to tie the game, on a keeper, but he was stopped short.
At 6:19, left in the game, the Panthers made the play of the game. Kirkham faked the run to Armstrong, pulled the ball back, and made a perfect pass to Jaxson Carpenter, who had sneaked behind the defense, and went 66 yards for the score. Servaes took a direct snap and made the two-point run.
The Dragons refused to give up. With 3:07 left in the game Wegenka scored on a 4th down, 1 yard run. The two point run was no good. The Dragons attempted another onside kick, however the Panthers recovered and ran out the clock, for the win.
The win moves the Panthers record to 5-1, and they will be home next week, to take on Lawson. Mid Buchanan drops to 4-2, and they will be on the road at Penney, next Friday.
