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Warriors fight off Mustangs' playoff comeback try, 21-16
ARAPAHOE, Neb. — Arapahoe got a good taste of pressure-packed playoffs and conquered the Sutton Mustangs, 21-16, Thursday night.
The Warriors (8-1 record) survived a scoreless second half following their 21-8 first half.
Seniors William Cacy, Jackson Koller and new starting quarterback Kade Fisher all ran to touchdowns before intermission.
Fisher has stepped in for injured senior Trenton Roskop, who sadly tore his ACL last week and Arapahoe dropped it’s regular-season finale at North Platte St. Patrick’s 24-14.
The D-1 West No. 6 Warriors led 14-0 through one quarter on Thursday against No. 11 Sutton (5-4 record).
Fisher ran four yards to the first Warrior score before Cacy covered 11 yards on his six-point journey.
Leonel Diaz kicked the first two of his three-for-three PAT performance.
A Mustang 14-yard TD gallop helped cut this margin to 14-8.
However, Koller’s eight-yard TD with that final Diaz kick formed a 21-8 Arapahoe advantage.
The Sutton Mustangs did strike one more time on a 55-yard touchdown pass. An ensuing Weston Ohrt two-point run made it 21-16 with still more than a full quarter remaining.
Koller, Cacy and Briggs Hill helped lead a shutout effort to clinch the D-1 state playoff win.
Koller made a team-best nine tackles, three assists and two tackles for loss.
Cacy broke into Sutton’s backfield to make four tackles behind that line. He added seven stops with four assists.
Hill totaled seven tackles and five more assists.
The trip propels Arapahoe’s D-1 “Sweet 16”. An opponent, site and start time are still to be announced.
Cacy’s 163 rush yards on 23 carries topped the 244-yard ground attack.
Fisher carried 14 times for 43 while also completing a 38-yard pass to Cacy. Koller added 40 yards on 12 totes of the football.