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Tigers top Trojans in 30-29 playoff thriller
BENKELMAN, Neb. — A crazy teeter-totter ride of win-or-be-done drama broke out for Dundy County-Stratton and Cambridge in Thursday’s D-1 state playoff game.
The host Tigers were down 15-0 then up 30-15 then back down to 30-29 with one more dramatic play few fans will forget anytime soon.
Cambridge went for the go-ahead two points following quarterback Paxton Ross’ one-yard touchdown plunge.
Ross threw this time and found senior Preston Carbaugh near that end-zone pylon.
Carbaugh even stretched the ball out near his ultimate goal while Tigers pushed him out of bounds.
The ref said yes! to two points for a 31-30 Trojan lead...
Wait a second!
Change the call to no good because it was ruled the ball was juggled until going out.
No points instead, and the DC-S Tigers held on though 1:27 and secured their 30-29 win.
Whew, the first football playoff win in Dundy County-Stratton history was even better than Cambridge’s 39-34 win over these Tigers just two weeks ago.
“It was a very similar story to the first time we played,” DC-S coach Michael Spargo said. “We preached to the guys to not get too down, and our body language was good. Considering we have a young team with many guys who were playing their first home playoff game, this was quite a win.”
Freshman quarterback Quade Myers fueled another 7-2 Tigers win het again. He rushed for a game-high 126 yards including the first DC-S touchdown gallop from Cambridge’s 45.
Myers later tossed a 14-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Serbando Diaz as the Tigers moved in front 16-15.
However, it was the one pass Myers caught that really turned around this terrific playoff game.
Myers took a “pick six” interception to another six points and 22-15 halftime lead.
“That was a huge pick,” Spargo confirmed. “Just a kid making another play. Last time we played, our (defensive) backs stepped up to try and stopped the run. This time, they did a good job of staying back and playing pass — trusting each other.”
A Diaz three-yard TD followed by another Myers conversion run made it 30-15.
Yet the Trojans (5-4 record) weren’t saying bye-bye to their season without one final good fight.
Ross scored on a four-yard run with 6:54 remaining and found top receiver Deryk Huxoll for two points.
Cambridge stopped the Trojans again, setting up this last terrific drive.
Ross tallied a two-yard TD and the Trojans went for that 31-30 lead.
“We’ve been on that end too, we lost a 32-30 playoff game to West Holt two years ago,” Spargo said.
Instead, DC-S will advance into next week’s D-1 “Sweet 16” where they will meet West No. 2-seed South Loup on Halloween night (Wednesday) at Callaway.
Kickoff is scheduled at 7 p.m. CDT (6 p.m. mountain).
South Loup shut out Ansley-Litchfield, 38-0, on Thursday.
The Trojans fell short despite two early touchdowns on a Spencer Rice two-yard run and Ross’ 35-yard scoring strike to Huxoll.
Carbaugh kicked one PAT then threw a two-point pass to Lucas tenBensel.
Rushing
DC-S: Myers 21 carries-126 yards; Diaz 30-101. CHS: Ross 11-26, Drew Sprinkle 4-22.
Passing
DCS: Myers 3-9-30 yds-1 TD. CHS: Ross 20-40-274-1 TD-2 Ints.
Receiving
DC-S: Diaz 2-23. CHS: Huxoll 8-134; Carbaugh 8-107.
Tackling
DC-S: Diaz 9 solos, Domonic Sis 7 1/2 (7 solos), Keegan Krutsinger 5 (2 sacks). CHS: tenBensel 11 1/2 (7 solos), Huxoll 6 1/2, Drew Sprinkle 5.