Wynot earns another big win over Winside
WYNOT — The Wynot Blue Devils and the Winside Wildcats met for the second time in a week for their first round game in the Nebraska D-2 playoff Thursday night.
The Blue Devils had beaten the Wildcats last Friday and this game followed the same script as Wynot advanced with the 46-20 win.
Wynot once again built a big halftime lead and the Cats came back with a fourth quarter rally.
Anthony Haberman led the way for the Blue Devil offense rushing for 219 yards and scoring four touchdowns. Owen Sudbeck provided a one-two punch sharing the load with 135 yards on 14 carries. Trystan Heimes had five catches for a touchdown and an extra point to lead the Blue Devils receivers.
On defense Anthony Haberman also lead the way with 11 tackles and a fumble recovery. Garrett Lange and Zach Foxhoven continued their steady play with eight tackles each. Winside was paced by Gabe Escalante who rushed for 63 yards and was 8-21 for 84 yards passing. Art Escalante caught two for 68 yards and a touchdown.
On defense the Wildcats got a solid game from Gabe Esclante with 14 tackles and an interception. Cayden Ellis contributed eight tackles and had a pair of interception as well.
“Our line played very well on both sides of the ball. We ran the ball well but had too many interceptions in the passing game. We”ll have to cut down on turnovers if we want to make a run in the playoffs, said Wynot head coach Steve Heimes.
Wynot got on the scoreboard early aided by a 45-yard run by Owen Sudbeck. A facemask on the tackle moved the ball to the 9-yard line. From there, Anthony Haberman ran the left side for the touchdown. A pitch to Owen Sudbeck added the PAT and Wynot was up 8-0.
Winside moved the ball downfield on a pair of first down runs by Gabe Escalante, but the drive failed and Cats punted into the endzone.
The Blue Devils would put together another drive to paydirt. A couple of first down runs by Owen Sudbeck and a 23-yard scamper by Haberman pushed the drive into the redzone. Two plays later, Anthony Haberman had his second score on a 2-yard plunge up the middle. Owen Sudbeck ran in the PAT and at the 3:30 mark Wynot lead 16-0.
The Wildcats went 3-and-out but a bad snap sailed over the punter’s head and went out the back of the endzone for a safety as Wynot’s lead increased to 18-0.
Both teams exchanged punts and Art Escalante picked off a pass to end a Wynot drive as the first quarter ended with the Wynot up 18-0.
Winside opened the second quarter with a nice drive deep into Blue Devils territory. Helped by a 22-yard catch and run by Dominic Reed and couple of runs by Art Escalante the Wildcats were inside the 5-yard line.
The Blue Devil line made a stand and stopped the Wildcats on downs.
Wynot ground out an 11- play drive for another score. A TD pass to Owen Sudbeck was taken off the board on a holding penalty. Anthony Haberman got the yardage back on a 20 yard scramble down to the eight-yard line. Haberman would cash in with an eight-yard trap play over the left side for his third touchdown of the night. Haberman hit Trystan Heimes for the PAT and Wynot was cruising 26-0.
On the next series for the Wildcats Art Escalante would fumble the ball and Haberman recovered it at the 28 yard line. Two plays later Anthony Haberman hit Trystan Heimes in stride crossing the middle for the 25- yard touchdown toss. The PAT run was stopped as Wynot held a 32-0 halftime lead.
Wynot’s ‘D’ continued to make it tough sledding for the Cats in the second half. After they were forced to punt Wynot mounted a drive deep into the Winside red zone. They were turned away when Cayden Ellis intercepted the ball to stall the drive.
Winside mounted a drive. With back to back catches of 24 and 18 yards by Cayden Ellis the Cats moved the ball downfield. Two plays later Maddox Magwire plowed in for the score.
The PAT run was stuffed but Winside was on the board trailing 32-6.
Winside tried an onside kick but it backfired when the ball bounced right up to Haberman and he returned it all the way to the Winside four-yard line. Haberman bulled in from the three-yard line to score. He connected with Colin Wieseler for the PAT as the score stood at 40-6 with 5:30 left in the third.
A Owen Sudbeck interception on the Cats’ next series put the Devils in scoring position. An option pitch was dropped but Owen Sudbeck picked it up and still reached paydirt on the 2 yard run. There was a bad snap on the PAT but Wynot was in control leading 46-6 going into the final frame.
Wynot’s defense held and the reserves went in to finish the game. An interception by Winside’s Art Escalante set up a 9 yard touchdown pass from Gabe Escalante to Art Escalante. Maddox Magwire ran in the PAT to make the score 46-14.
Winside put one more score up in the final minute on a 21 yard catch and run by Art Escalante. The PAT was stopped making the final tally 46-20.
Wynot 18 14 14 0 — 46
Winside 0 0 6 14 — 20
Rushing Wynot - Anthony Haberman 22- 219; Owen Sudbeck, 14-135; Colin Wieseler, 3-29; Dylan Heine, 8-29. Winside - Gabe Escalante, 15-63; Art Escalante, 7-10; Cayden Ellis, 2-24.
Passing Wynot - Anthony Haberman, 7-81; Dylan Heine, 3-18. Winside - Gabe Escalante, 8-21, Art Escalante 4-21.
Receiving Wynot - Trystan Heimes, 5-56; Carson Wieseler, 3-18; Jack Kuchta, 2-12. Winside - Dominic Reed, 4-99; Art Escalante, 2-68; Gabe Escalante,1-56.
Tackles Wynot - Anthony Haberman, 11; Garrett Lange 8; Zack Foxhoven,8. Winside - Gabe Escalante 14; Cayden Ellis 8; Tanner Board 8.
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