Elkhorn South overcomes penalties to post 35-0 win over Omaha Gross

Elkhorn South overcomes penalties, cramping, to post 35-0 Opening Night Win.

by Bobby Mills (1000 Yard Guy)

Elkhorn South was able to overcome 130 yards in penalties and a rash of opening night cramping to gain an opening night 35-0 win over a well coached Omaha Gross team. On a warm, windy night at Bryan Stadium, the Storm turned to its passing game and stout defense to turn back the Cougars.

The Gross defense placed a linebacker to shadow sophomore sensation Moses Malone and whomever Elkhorn South ran out of the backfield and it worked for a quarter and then some. Defense was the story in the first quarter as neither team was able to cross midfield.

On the very first play of the 2nd quarter, Gross quarterback Colin Weis had the ball punched out of his hands and Elkhorn South immediately pounced on the ball on the Cougar 47. Seven plays later, Moses Bryant, who had 39 yards in the drive, blasted in for a 3 yard touchdown with 9:49 remaining in that 2nd stanza.

After holding Gross to a 3 and out, the Storm marched 55 yards for another score amidst what seemed like a gazillion penalties. 185 pound senior QB, Connor Ebeling found sophomore Jared Jennings all alone in the far left corner of the endzone for the 2 yard score. With 2:14 left in the half, Elkhorn South had a 14-0 lead they took into the halftime break.

The Storm added another score with 2:03 left in the 3rd on a 45 yard touchdown gallop by junior Brayton Haley. The drive before that for the Storm, which was their opening drive of the 2nd half, was a frustrating mixture of a nice passing game, dropped balls, penalties, cramps, and some nifty running by Haley and Jack Fortner. Moses Bryant actually sat out that drive and carried only once in that 3rd frame.

Elkhorn South added two more scores in the 4th quarter. Connor Ebeling fired his 2nd TD pass of the evening when he fired a bullet to a streaking Alec Sanger, good for an electrifying 60 yard score.

A minute five seconds later, Jared Jennings stepped in front of a Gross receiver and pirated a Cole Edgermier pass and rambled 67 yards for a Pick 6. Omaha Gross signal caller Colin Weis had exited the game early in the 3rd quarter making a tackle on defense and did not return.

Tim Johnk's Gross defense actually did a very good job shadowing the Storm ball carriers for the night, especially Moses Bryant. The sophomore glider was "held" to 86 yards on 22 carries for the evening, but still displayed his usual moves, but added some newly displayed, added power crunch to his running style.

Storm quarterback Connor Ebeling ended up completing 7 of 16 passes for 112 yards and 2 TDs for the night, while the stubborn South "D" was holding Gross to a meager 134 total yards. 190 pound junior Brayton Haley was the 2nd leading rusher for Elkhorn South as he added 66 yards on just 5 touches, one being the 45 yard TD run.

Typical opening night for these Class B teams that are coached by two of the best in Elkhorn South's Guy Rosenburg and Omaha Gross veteran, Tim Johnk, who owns a 95-54 career coaching record and was also one of the best running backs Class B has ever seen when he blasted through everything and everybody at Schuyler in the last 70's.

Elkhorn South will play their home opener next Friday, September 4th, when they host Bennington, while Gross hits the road with a tough assignment against bitter rival Omaha Skutt, the Class B pre-season favorite to take it all.

The Yardstick:

.......................1......2......3......4........T

Elkhorn South.....0.....14.....7.....14.......35

Omaha Gross.....0.......0.....0......0.........0

.....................ES.............OG

Rushing............200-43...........98-33

Passing.........7-16-112-0........6-17-98-1

Total Yards........312...............132

1st Downs............15.................9

Penalties..........15-130............7-54

Turnovers.....................................

Interceptions..........0.................1

Fumbles/Lost........1-0................1-1