Burwell punches ticket to Lincoln with rematch victory over Palmer.

Burwell's offense gets set in a semifinal matchup with Palmer. The Longhorns won, 26-24 to advance to Lincoln.

Burwell punches ticket to Lincoln with rematch victory over Palmer.

by Bobby Mills (1000 Yard Guy)

Burwell, Ne.

They say it's difficult to beat a great team twice in one season, especially deep in the playoffs. Palmer felt the sting of such a rematch with Burwell after knocking off the then No. 1 Longhorns on the road, 42-38 on September 9th.

Tonight it was Burwell's turn, as the 8-3 'Horns were able to hold off an undefeated (11-0) Palmer team, 26-24 in a Class D-1 (8-Man) semifinal matchup.

The win by Burwell sends the Longhorns back to Memorial Stadium in Lincoln for another shot a D-1 title. West Point Guardian Angels Central Catholic will be the opponent after the Bluejays held off Creighton 48-44.

It looked like Burwell may run away with it early, racing out to an early 14-0 first quarter lead. But a well balanced, lightening fast Palmer team regained their composure and made the Longhorns hold on for dear life before the final gun sounded under a crystal clear football night with a Super Moon splashing its light down on the Burwell gridiron.

In the end, it was the inability of Palmer to cash in any of its double PAT opportunities following Tiger scores that spelled the difference.

As expected, Burwell rode the legs of 211 pound RB Tori Huffman, who had rushed for a monster 1,922 yards coming into the semifinal clash. 732 of those yards were gained in the Longhorn's first three playoff wins.

It took Burwell only 4 plays to score following the opening kickoff. Beginning on their own 15, Huffman ripped off gains of 8, 6, and 3 yards before QB Cayden Owens slipped through the Palmer middle for a quick 48 yard touchdown dash. Huffman ran it in for the double PAT and The 'Horns had themselves an early 8-0 lead with only a minute, 12 seconds expired off the clock.

After holding Palmer to a 3 and out, the Longhorns struck again before the Tigers could inhale.

Huffman, who ran for 118 first half yards, blasted for an 18 yard gain that stretched from the Burwell 37 to the Palmer 25. On the very next play, the senior bulldozer took a direct snap and swept 25 yards to his right for another score.

BANG, 6 plays, two touchdowns and an early 14-0 lead with 9:04 still remaining in the opening stanza.

Palmer did regroup, forcing punts on the next two Burwell possessions, but the Longhorn defense, especially the pass defense, held strong to secure the 14-0 first quarter advantage.

Burwell put together a monster, clock draining drive that consumed 6:24 spanning from late in the first quarter to 8:57 of the 2nd stanza. The Longhorn offense ran 14 plays, starting at their own 20, before Palmer snuffed it out 4 yards from their own end zone.

The Tigers, taking over in the shadow of their own end zone, could advance only to their own 36 before turning it over on downs following three straight Kaden Reimers incomplete passes.

Once again Burwell struck quickly with deadly precision. It took only one play for QB Cayden Owens to spot a tightly covered All-State TE Tyler Gideon.

The 230 pound specimen wrestled the ball away from a Palmer defender and performed a sweet juggling act before sprinting 48 yards for a Longhorn touchdown. With 6:29 showing on the Burwell scoreboard in the 2nd quarter, the 'Horns were up 20-0.

Palmer had to respond before halftime.

It didn't happen on the ensuing possession, but after the Tigers held Burwell to a 3 and out on the Longhorns 19, Palmer senior Chandler Donscheski put his team in great field possession with a sparkling punt return that carried all the way back to the Burwell 14.

Four plays later, Hunter Reimers carried Burwell tacklers on his back for a 4 yard touchdown run.

The Kaden Reimers PAT pass failed and Palmer was on the board before halftime, trailing 20-6 at the break.

Palmer looked like they might take the 3rd quarter kickoff and march straight down the field. They did just that. But once again the Burwell defense stiffened, stuffing Kaden Reimers on a 4th and goal at the Longhorn 2 yard line.

A 33 yard pass/catch from Kaden Reimers to Michael Wolfe highlighted the drive.

The Longhorns once again turned to Tori Huffman, who toted the ball 5 times in a row, gaining 26 yards, but a holding penalty, one of many for Burwell forced a punt.

Burwell, still up 20-6 with thirty nine seconds left in the 3rd, felt the sting of the Tiger defense when junior Spencer picked off an Owens aerial on the Longhorns next possession, returning it to Longhorn 27 yard stripe.

Four plays later, Kaden Reimers nailed cousin Hunter Reimers for a 13 yard scoring pass with no time showing on the clock in the third stanza.

The PAT run was short and Palmer was in real business, trailing only 20-12 after three.

The Tigers were also starting to stop Tori Huffman. The 212 pound back went for no yards, and a minus 2 yards on the 'Horns opening 4th quarter possession.

Spencer Wichman and big Dominic Donahey then combined to sack Cayden Owns for a minus 11 and a Burwell punt followed from their own 19.

It took only 2 plays for Palmer to strike after that. Kaden Reimers retreated three steps and fired a perfect strike to Spencer Wichmann, who then sprinted 48 yards for the score.

Big Mo had just switched sides.

Palmer suffered a critical setback on the double PAT attempt when Wichmann gobbled up a Reimers pass and appeared to have hit the pylon for the 2 point conversion. It was ruled his knee had touched before his outstretched body made contact with the orange marker.

Now trailing only 20-18 with a fat 9:06 left in the game, Palmer appeared to be making a critical comeback.

Then a strange thing happened. The Tigers, facing a 4th and 10 on their own 15, decided to go for it. I could see the logic after a surefire TD pass had been mishandled on the play before..........but.

Kaden Reimers fired a bullet to the spot where Michael Wolfe was supposed to be but the pass fell harmlessly to the ground with no receiver in sight and 5:40 showing in the 4th quarter. The Tigers wanted defensive holding on the intended receiver.

Burwell cashed in 4 plays later on a 3rd and goal from the one. QB Cayden Owens followed the right side of his offensive line for the TD.

Senior Thomas Chardin, the foreign exchange from France and the quarterfinal hero, came on for the PAT boot, but the Tigers blocked the attempt.

Three minutes, 49 ticks remained.

Palmer then fashioned a terrific 9 play, 2:05 second scoring drive, culminating with a Hunter Reimers 2 yard TD run. That left Palmer trailing 26-24 with 1:44 left and no choice but to go for two.

Kaden Reimers and Michael Wolfe were caught in the Tiger backfield trying to make an exchange when Burwell All-State candidate Chase Hoffschneider ripped the ball away to prevent the critical point after.

Sure-handed Tyler Gideon then gobbled up Palmer's onside kickoff attempt with 1:43 left. All Burwell needed was a first down and Tori Huffman obliged, bolting for gains of 6, 2 and 2 yards to seal the deal and send the Longhorns back to Lincoln.

Tori Huffman led the Burwell ground attack with 182 yards on a staggering 38 carries and a touchdown. That raises his season rushing total to 2,104 yards and 33 touchdowns. It also gives the powerful Huffman 914 rushing yards in 4 playoff games.

Longhorn quarterback Cayden Owens completed 8 of 13 passes for 88 yards and a TD with one interception. Tyler Gideon grabbed 5 of those 8 receptions for 73 yards and that 48 yard TD.

Palmer, who ended their great 2016 season with an 11-1 record, went to the air often with Kaden Reimers ending the night by completing 16 of 33 passes for 201 yards, 2 touchdowns and one interception.

Senior Chandler Donscheski hauled in 4 passes for 62 yards to lead the Tiger receiving corps. Spencer Wichmann added 66 yards on three receptions, including that 48 yard TD grab. Michael Wolfe grabbed 4 passes for 44 yards.

Hunter Reimers led the tackle parade, as usual, with 19 stops.

Burwell advances to the Class D-1 (8-Man) Championship game next Monday at 2:45 at UNL's Memorial Stadium to face 12-0 West Point Guardian Angels CC.

.............................1........2........3........4.........F

(11-1) Palmer.....0........6........6.......12.......24

(9-3) Burwell......14......6........0........6.......26

1st Quarter:

B - Cayden Owens 48 run......................................(Tori Huffman run)

B - Huffman 25 run.................................................(run failed)

2nd Quarter:

B - Tyler Gideon 48 pass from Owens..................(pass failed)

P - Hunter Reimers 4 run........................................(pass failed)

3rd Quarter:

P - H. Reimers 13 pass from Kaden Reimers........(run failed)

4th Quarter:

P - Spencer Wichmann 48 pass from K. Reimers (run failed)

B - Owens 1 run........................................................(kick blocked)

P - H. Reimers 2 run.................................................(run failed)