Week Eleven Friday Night Lights Playoff Heroes - Part 1

Elkhorn South's multi-record setting RB, Moses Bryant. *(photo by Bobby Mills)

**Most Touchdowns Career-11-Man football (105)**

**Most Rushing Yards-Career- Class B (5,392)**

*Moses Bryant (ATH) - Elkhorn South - Football folks, I’m close to running out of words to say about this extraordinary young man. The only bittersweet fact about Moses Bryant is the fact he has only two more more games, at most, before he calls it a career at Elkhorn South.

In the Storm’s 38-13 quarterfinal win over Elkhorn, Moses rushed for 128 yards on 23 carries and scored 4 touchdowns after sitting out last week’s win over Omaha Gross.

The sensational senior eclipsed two more state records in the Elkhorn win. His four TD runs of 3, 3, 16 and 2 yards, raised his career touchdown total to 105, erasing Calvin Strong’s old record of 104. The former Omaha North star’s career went from 2011-2014.

Moses also became Class B’s all-time career rushing leader with his 5,392 yards and counting. That eclipsed the old mark of 5,281, held by Blair ace Ryan Randall (2008-2010)

Stu Pospisil pointed out that Bryant has scored a phenomenal 636 points in his career. The 11-Man record is 672, still held by the amazing John Kroeker of Henderson, who graced Nebraska high school gridirons from 1981 through 1984. That’s an old record, folks but is within Moses reach.

Elkhorn South and Moses Bryant are two victories away from a third straight Class B State Championship and will host York this Friday in one of the Class B semifinal games. Omaha Skutt and Gretna lock horns in the other.

*Tanner Tierney (RB), Dragon offensive front line - Gretna - The Dragons knew they would be in for a battle with air-efficient Grand Island Northwest last Friday. Not that Gretna’s defensive backfield is inefficient, but simply the fact Dave Schrader’s team had not faced the likes of Northwest QB Carter Terry and skilled wide receivers, Brady Glause and Riley Schliep this season.

Schrader turned to 1000 yard rusher Tanner Tierney and his road graters up front to get the job done against the pass happy Vikings. It took about half of football game for the Gretna rushing machine to get rolling, but when they did, the potent Dragons offensive turned a 10-7 halftime lead into a 39-19 road win.

Tierney rushed for 80% of his game high 289 yards in the second half. The 5-8, 175 pound senior had 43 grueling touches in the game, but had sweet running lanes, thanks to his offensive line and fullback. Mr. Tierney’s escorts through that GINW defense were:

#60-Tanner Huber-C (5-9, 195, Jr), #67-Sam Rutz-G (6-1, 242, Sr), #55-Cade Mueller-G (6-1, 225, Sr), #66-Garrett Sila-T (6-2, 210, Jr), #75-Chase Mackling-T (6-3, 270, Sr), #31-Joey Johnson-TE (6-3, 200 Sr), #18-Morgan Bartling-TE (6-6, 240, Sr) and #34-Hunter Chilton-FB (6-0, 200, Jr).

Tierney, who rushed for four touchdowns in the GINW game, scored on runs of 1,1,3 and 17 yards. The sensational senior RB has now rushed for 1,696 yards and 25 TDs in 2017.

*Carter Terry (QB) - Grand Island Northwest - In that 39-19 loss to Gretna, the junior QB bullseyed 25 of his 39 throws for 290 yards and two scores. Danny Fisher had a TD reception of 36 yards in the 2nd quarter and Brady Glause grabbed a flashy 80 yard touchdown pass in the 4th quarter to pull the Vikings to within 32-19.

Carter Terry wraps up his junior season with an unofficial 172 of 285 passes for 2,730 yards with 33 TDs and 11 INTs. In just two seasons as a starter at Northwest, Terry has amassed an unofficial 5,036 yards and 57 TDs.

*Dylan Gentrup (ATH), Cardinals Defense - Boone Central/Newman Grove - Gentrup performed his usual magic and the Cardinals defensive unit may have pulled off their best game of 2017 in Boone’s 19-9 conquest of then undefeated Boys Town.

The athletic Gentrup completed 11 of 22 passes for 98 yards and a spectacular 5 yard, across the width of the football field, scoring pass to Ethan Dotzler. Gentrup also ran the ball 23 times for 115 yards and a TD (1 run). But it was the Boone Central/Newman Grove’s amazing defense that won the game in the quarterfinal matchup with the athletic Cowboys.

That stingy Cardinal defense limited Boys Town to just 113 yards of total offense in game. Jesse Sullivan led the charge with 10 tackles. Garrett Cornwell added 8 stops with a recovered fumble. Junior Will Frey also made 8 tackles, while Caden Rasmussen and Trey Schafer chipped in 7 takedowns apiece.

Ethan Dotzler and Weston Choat (both juniors) each recorded QB sacks, while Dylan Gentrup, and Schafer each had an interception. Cody Nelson topped that by picking off two Cowboys aerials.

Gentrup’s numbers entering the semifinal game with Pierce; 1,357 rushing yards, 18 TDs and 1,807 passing yards with 21 TDs-9 INTs.

*Miko Maessner (RB), Matt Stute (RB), Kanon Koster (QB) - Kearney - The Bearcat trio shredded the Omaha Westside defense to the tune of 350 yards in Kearney’s impressive 33-17 Class A quarterfinal win over the Warriors.

Dazzling sophomore Miko Maessner ran for 177 yards on just 13 totes and two long TD runs covering 71 and 57 yards. He also had another 67 yard TD called back. Hard running Matt Stute had 107 yards and three scores on 22 touches, and Kanon Koster came back after a one game absence to run for 66 tough yards on 16 carries.

You also cannot fail to mention the force that plays a huge part opening holes for these gents….the hulking All-State candidate, Lee Herrington. I just call him “Sir”.

*Drew Bippes (QB), Christian Harring (RB), Jack Hoy (WR) - Falls City Sacred Heart - Bippes and Harring helped the Irish build a 34-14 lead over Humphrey St. Francis with 9:22 to play in the 4th quarter, but it was sophomore Jack Hoy, who performed some Sacred heart magic, that helped Doug Goltz boys to hold on for a nail-biting 34-30 win over the Flyers.

Funny thing was, the Irish thought Hoy’s highlight reel 33 yard TD reception put the game out of reach, 34-14 at the time. As it turned out, it was Hoy’s catch, that featured speed, shiftiness, and his pickup of a dribbled football, that was the difference at the end.

Bippes ended the game completing 12 of 17 passes for 164 yards and two TDs. The junior standout also rushed for 90 yards on 13 carries and a 30 yard TD run. The All-State Christian Harring led the Irish rushing charge with 105 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown run of 61 yards.

*Bryland Menicucci (RB), Griffin Hendricks (QB) - Yutan - In a Battle Royale between two of the top defenses in Class C-2, Menicucci and Hendricks came up with the needed offensive fuel to get the Chieftains past tough Valentine, 20-7.

Hendricks connected on 10 of 12 passes for 167 yards and two TDs, while the speedy, shifty Menicucci stormed for 167 yards on 32 carries and a 4 yard TD run. 5-10, 175 pound sophomore Chase Perchal fielded both scoring passes from Hendricks, one a 33 yarder and the other an insurance 4th quarter 13 yard touchdown catch.

Incidentally, Bryland Menicucci now has 1,559 rushing yards for the season (15 TDs), while Griffin Hendricks, only a sophomore, has hit 60 of 102 passes for 958 yards and 8 TDs in 9 games.

*JD Daro (WR), Jarod Epperson (DB), Jake Zeplin (DB) - Omaha Skutt - Another trio that came up huge in Skutt’s 30-14 win over McCook without posting gaudy stats. Wide receiver JD Daro, only 5-8 and a buck 45, not only caught a 35 yard TD pass from Ben Sievers, but he junior blasted through to block a McCook punt. The blocked football then sailed out of the back of the end zone for a safety, giving the SkyHawks their first points of the football game.

Both Epperson and Zeplin intercepted McCook passes in the game. Epperson’s 44 yard, Pick 6 in the second stanza stretched the Skutt lead to 23-14 at the half. This type of play just perfectly describes Matt Turman/Skutt Catholic type football to a tee.

**1000 Yard Rusher Alert**

*Derek Wortman (RB) - Creighton - Junior RB, now filling in full time for the injured and out-for-the-season, Bryce Zimmerer, rambled for 212 yards on 27 carries and TD runs of 20, 79, 26, 42 and 57 yards in Creighton’s 58-0 shutout of Plainview.

That raised the junior’s season rushing total to 1,015 yards with 22 TDs. Since taking over for Bryce at the start of the playoffs, Wortman has rushed for 444 yards and 12 TDs in just 2 games. Meanwhile, the Creighton defense has outscored McCool Junction and Plainview 130-0 to begin that Bulldogs playoff run.

*Charles Johnson (QB/DB), Alex Patrick (RB) - Perkins County - The Plainsmen shocked Atkinson West Holt when Johnson nailed Patrick with a 36 yard Hail Mary pass as time ran out.

The miracle pass, actually set up by Patrick being a step and a half behind his defender, came as time ran out in Grant. West Holt had just taken the lead, 27-26 with 2:16 left before the All-State Charles Johnson hooked up with Alex Patrick, giving Perkins County the 32-27 win.

Johnson was already a 1000 yard rusher and 700 yard plus thrower entering the West Holt matchup.

***1000 Yard Rusher Alert - 2nd Time Around***

***1000 Yard Rusher Alert***

*Garrett Snodgrass (ATH), Simon Otte (ATH), Masry Mapieu (OL/DL) - York - Husker commit Masry Mapieu did the dirty work while All-State Simon Otte and All-State candidate Garrett Snodgrass did the scoring, in the Dukes 35-20 win over Scottsbluff.

Simon Otte jetted for 176 yards and TD runs of 35 and 8 yards, while the versatile Garrett Snodgrass was going off for 115 yards and scoring runs of 28 and 68 yards. The explosion enabled York to build up a 35-0 third quarter lead before the proud Bearcats reeled off 20 straight points to finish the game.

Snodgrass,a junior, is unofficially at 1,093 yards rushing and 18 TDs for the year. Otte is not far back with 1,124 yards. Don’t forget that Snodgrass was also 31 of 39 passing for 644 yards/7 TDs entering the Scottsbluff game.

Either one of these two athletes could make All-State at more than one position.

*Nate Brungardt (QB), Dylan Kautz (RB/DB), Joe Teten (DE) - Norfolk Catholic - Trailing David City Aquinas 17-7 entering the 4th quarter, the much matured sophomore quarterback Nate Brungardt, hooked up for scores with Evan Smith and Chance Clausen, to help rally the Knights to a 21-17 Class C-1 quarterfinal win over the Monarchs.

Brungardt found junior Evan Smith for a 25 yard scoring toss with 9:45 left in the game, then fired an absolutely picture perfect, right on the money 10 yard touchdown strike to Clausen with only 1:25 left in the contest.

Brungardt completed 6 of 9 passes for 71 yards for the game, but two were for critical TDs. Two time All-State speed demon Dylan Kautz led the ground attack with 154 yards on 27 carries and a 25 yard TD run. Kautz was also a force on defense, sacking Aquinas quarterback Gavin Rech and forcing a punt that set up Catholic’s winning scoring drive. Dylan also picked off a pass to kill the Monarchs final drive of the game with 14 seconds left, sewing up the Norfolk Catholic victory.

And Joe Teten? All Kautz’s classmate did was sack Monarch QB Gavin Rech twice during that final Aquinas drive of the game.