Lakeview bests Scotus again to advance in C-1 playoffs.

For the 2nd time in just a week, Columbus Lakeview won a fever-pitch high school football game over cross town rival Columbus Scotus. It was a dreaded rematch, a cruel twist of fate that often occurs in the Nebraska high school football playoffs. You play a bitter rival to end the regular season, kick a game winning field goal with time expiring, and find out the next day you have to face them all over again when it all matters. Faced with a "loser go home, turn in your uniform" situation, the Lakeview Vikings overcame a furious 3rd quarter rally by Columbus Scotus and went on to turn a 14-14 tie into a snow balling 35-14 victory. It was a crushing blow to a 4-5 Scotus team whose record did not even come close to reflecting how well the Shamrocks played this fall.

After battling to even terms in the first quarter, Lakeview's super sprinter Mark Jarecki set up another short field for Lakeview with one of his many fine punt returns. Beginning on the Scotus 45 yard line it took only 4 plays for the 175 pound Divison 1 track prospect to break a splendid 33 yard touchdown run. Jarecki took the ball on a pitch right, followed his blockers perfectly, and weaved his way for the score. On the very next Viking possession, Lakeview overcame a fumble by Jarecki and a holding penalty to march 68 yards to another score. After Jarecki fumbled, he ripped off a 21 yard gain the very next play, followed by a 20 yard burst by Evan Dewald. With a little over a minute to go in the half, QB Jack Shadley rolled left and fired a perfect 36 yard strike to 6-3, 175 senior Ethan Scheffler. Austin Urkoski kicked the point after high through the uprights and the Vikings had a 14-0 halftime lead.

As expected, Scotus came out on fire to begin the 2nd half. The 'Rocks mixed their plays well, taking the ball from their own 36 to the end zone in 11 plays. Five different players carried the ball on the 4:19 drive with QB Grant Lahm going airborn for the final yard on 3rd down for the score. After holding Lakeview to a three and out, it took Scotus only 6 plays to bust loose fleet Tony Zoucha on a 62 yard reverse for a score. Deadeye Cody Zimmerman drilled the point after and Scotus had the momentum and a 14-14 tie.

Things would take a turn for the worst for Scotus on the ensuing Lakeview possession. Mark Jarecki put Lakeview in business with a kick return to the Viking 36. On the 5th play of the drive, Scotus was flagged for a personal foul that moved the ball from the Shamrock 47 to their 32. Jarecki carried 4 more yards to the 28 and Scotus was flagged for an unsportmanlike conduct 15 yard penalty. The ball was now on the 14. The 'Rocks stiffened, throwing Shadley for losses of 3 and 3 yards. Facing a 4th and 16 at the Scotus 20, Shadley fired a highlight reel 20 yard TD pass to Ethan Scheffler. Scheffler, who was well covered, leaped high in the air to snare the TD strike with only 45 seconds remaining in the 3rd quarter. Lakeview now had the go ahead lead of 21-14.

Things just seemed to sour in the 4th quarter for the Scotus team that had fought their way through a murder's row football schedule during the regular season. After a Shamrock 3 and out, Lakeview mixed the pass and the run on the next 65 yard drive. Speedy Evan Dewald took the ball on a reverse and kicked in the afterburners for a 14 yard TD scamper. The point after by Austin Urkoski gave Lakeview a 28-14 cushion. The Vikings recovered a Scotus fumble on the next possession and eventually scored on a 1 yard Shadley run to make it 35-14 with 4:51 left in the contest.

Things got worse for the 'Rocks the next time around when Lakeview recovered a fumble on the Scotus 25 following a 4th down snap that sailed over the punter's head. But the proud Shamrock defense stiffened and held after 9 plays, but it was too little too late when Scotus began their final time with the ball and the clock reading 1:03. Scotus could run olnly 5 plays before time ran out.

Columbus Lakeview was led in rushing by the hard running Mark Jarecki, who had 24 carries for 136 yards. Evan Dewald added 8 carries for 70 yards and a TD. QB Jack Shadley threw only 10 passes, completing 4 for 93 yards, 2 of which were TD strikes to the high leaping Scheffler. Columbus Scotus was paced by swift Tony Zoucha, who ran for 150 yards on 12 carries.

Scotus ends the season at 4-5, but considering the competition, Lakeview twice, Boone Central/NG, Pierce (whom they defeated), David City Aquinas, and Wahoo Neumann and GICC, this writer would have to say the 'Rocks had an outstanding season.

Lakeview advances to the quarterfinals of the C-1 playoffs and face a road trip to Syracuse to face a surging, undefeated Rocket squad. This will be the final go-around for a great Lakeview senior class and the Vikings have their sights on a trip to Lincoln. A win over Syracuse would make that dream look a lot clearer.