During the playoffs, the level of pressure is always at its highest. However, as there get to be fewer and fewer teams remaining the level of pressure increases exponentially.
This week the number of teams remaining in the race to Memorial Stadium decreased from 8 to 4 as the second-ranked Patriots of Millard South hosted the tenth-ranked Vikings of Omaha North. The Patriots overcame the pressure to get a 45-0 victory and advance to the state semifinals for the first time since 2020.
This was the first time these two met up since the Vikings pulled the first-round upset over the then-number-one Patriots in the 2021 playoffs. The Patriots were determined to make sure that the same result did not happen this time around.
The Patriots got off to a fast start as they started the game off with a touchdown on the first drive of the game to go up 7-0. The scoring continued for the Patriots as senior Nolan Feller ran for a 60-yard touchdown with less than a minute to go in the first quarter. The Patriots ended the quarter with a 14-0 lead.
The second quarter had very similar results as the Patriots kept the fast start going with a field goal and two touchdowns. One of the touchdowns was a 55-yard play through the air and the other was a 40-yard touchdown run on the ground. The Patriots went into halftime with a 31-0 lead.
Much of the third quarter went by without a score but the Patriots were finally able to push across a touchdown with a 17-yard rushing score with less than two minutes left in the third quarter. The Patriots went into the final quarter with a 38-0 lead.
The score stayed at 38-0 for most of the fourth quarter but the Patriots scored another touchdown on the ground from ten yards out to extend the lead to 45-0. That score stayed the same as the final seconds ran out as the Patriots won 45-0.
The Patriots will continue to chase after their first state championship since 2009 as they host the third-ranked Storm of Elkhorn South, who defeated the eleventh-ranked Lincoln East Spartans, on November 10th.
On the other side of the bracket, the number one ranked and reigning state champions Westside Warriors defeated the ninth-ranked Bellevue West Thunderbirds. They will host the fifth-ranked Millard West Wildcats, who defeated the thirteenth-ranked Grand Island Islanders, on November 10th.
The four teams left will have to play their best to advance to the state championship at Memorial Stadium on November 21st.
