On Friday, Oct. 27, the Millard West varsity football team took on the Millard North Mustangs in the first round of the Class A 2023 state football playoffs at Buell stadium.
The two teams met before, with the Wildcats closing out a narrow win, 28-21. Millard North dominated the time of possession, and ran the ball for a staggering 338 yards as a team. However, the Wildcat offense was incredibly efficient, putting up their 28 points on just 30 offensive plays.
Millard North qualified for the state playoffs with a 4-5 record, placing third in District A6. Millard West was crowned district A6 champions, and with a 7-2 record, was picked as one of the top teams in the state.
Millard North started off with the ball at their own 20, but after getting stopped on 3rd down, junior Henry Rehburg punted the ball for Millard North. It went off his foot wrong, and was out of bounds at the 30. The punt was a total of two yards. Even with the great field position, Millard North’s defense was able to hold strong, and after the Wildcats went for it on 4th down, the Mustangs held firm and were able to get off the field.
The Mustang offense once again stalled out, but a strong punt by Rehburg put the Wildcats at their own 32, marking the first time the ball moved past midfield, with 6:49 left in the first quarter.
The Millard West offense finally found life, as after a first down run on the opening play of the drive by senior quarterback Brody Peterson, and then a big throw to junior wideout Bradyn Johnson, the Wildcats pushed past midfield. Shortly after, senior running back Bobby Joseph took the outside handoff for 20 yards, putting the Wildcats in the red zone. The methodical drive was capped off with a 20 yard rushing touchdown by Peterson, as he went untouched into the endzone.
“The big difference between the first game and last game was our physicality on the line of scrimmage,” senior guard Wyatt Goodlett said. “We were able to control the line of scrimmage for practically the entire game, and it allowed us to run the ball well. After that, it was only a matter of time until we were in the driver’s seat.”
It took a majority of the first quarter, but the Mustang offense finally figured out the game plan; run the dang ball. Junior fullback Colin Bogacz saved what could have been a disastrous drive with a 47 yard run to get the Mustangs past midfield. But two costly fouls set the Mustangs back, and what started as a promising drive ended with no points.
After the end of the first quarter, Millard West led, 7-0.
The start of the second quarter started the fireworks for Millard West, as Joseph took the opening play 69 yards to the house, putting the Wildcats up 14-0. Following the touchdown, Millard North continued with their philosophy of running the ball, and after a few string runs got North into Wildcat territory, senior quarterback Evan Hansen took the QB Keeper 45 yards to the house, cutting the lead to 7.
Millard North rode with that momentum, as they would pin the Wildcats deep in their own territory. The North defense once again put pressure on the Wildcats, and with his back against the wall, senior punter Parker Dunn booted the punt to the Wildcat 43. It was a best case scenario for Millard West, as the snap was high, and almost ended in a Mustang safety. Two plays later, Hansen pitched it to junior Husker pledge Caden Vermaas, and junior defensive lineman Braedyn Kiger punched the ball out. Seconds later, senior defensive back Jon Furgeson found himself streaking down the sideline for the first scoop and score of the season for Millard West. The Wildcats found themselves up 21-7, with 6:10 left in the first half.
Millard North was down, but not out just yet. Following a strong return, the Mustangs set up shop at the 36. Then, on 3rd & 5, Hansen threw his first pass of the game, and it went for a 59 yard touchdown to Vermaas. Following the PAT, the Mustangs were back in it, down 21-14.
West wasn’t done with their scoring explosion just yet, as a huge chunk play from Peterson to junior tight end Breck Osborne for 30 yards to the North 40. 30 yards later, Peterson took the QB sweep around the outside for another touchdown with 36 seconds left. There wasn’t enough time for North to score, and the score at the half was 28-14.
“Our tight ends have done a great job setting their blocks all season,” senior tackle Tyler Thaden said. “It was about time we got a big play off the chip block, and it came at a great time, too.”
Millard West would get the ball to start the second half, but it would take them a bit to see the field offensively, as senior wide receiver and North Dakota State commit Jackson Williams took the kickoff 85 yards to the house, putting an early nail in the coffin, and give Millard West the rare offensive, defensive and special teams touchdown.
But the Wildcats weren’t done yet. As Millard North started to get their offense rumbling, Hansen dropped back to pass, and senior defensive back Jace Ingebreston stepped in front of the throw over the middle, for a 79 yard Pick-6. Millard West was now up 42-14.
“There was no better time to get that first Pick-6,” Ingebretson said. “It really was the cherry on top to what was a great game by our team.”
Millard West would not surrender any points in the third quarter, and a 41 yard rushing touchdown by Joseph late in the 3rd would seal the deal, as both teams were held scoreless in the 4th.
Millard West’s championship hopes stay alive, as they improve to 8-2 on the season. Their next game is at 4 p.m, on Friday, Nov. 3 at Buell Stadium against Grand Island. The theme is blackout.
