Brody Belt TD runs lift Millard West past Lincon Southwest

The Millard West offense (white) lines up against Lincoln SW during a steamy afternoon game at Lincoln's Seacrest Field. *(photo by Bobby Mills)

Lincoln - Millard West back Brody Belt proved he is one of the top runners in Nebraska prep football. Belt’s 4 touchdown runs, three coming in the second half, proved to be the difference in the Wildcats 42-23 win over previously undefeated Lincoln Southwest.

Belt’s touchdown runs to open each half were as hot as the 120 degree temperatures Seacrest’s Field’s artificial surface in the matinee (4:30) contest. It took only 15 seconds into the football game for the 5-9, 165 pound speedster to hit the house. Belt took a pitch, swept to his left and simply outran the Silverhawk defense for a 61 yard TD on the game’s very first play.

The Millard West senior hit the replay button the second play of the 3rd quarter. It the very same call the Wildcats ran to open the game, only this time Belt scooted 64 yards down the left sidelines to ignite a 21 point stanza for Millard West.

It was a strange game where the stat sheet did not reflect the final score, nor the winner of the contest, and it may have left both head coaches scratching their heads.

The first three items on the Team Stat Comparison sheet could nearly convince you Lincoln Southwest came out on top in this battle of the unbeatens.

*The Silverhawks ran 80 plays to Millard West’s 38.

*Lincoln SW outgained the Wildcats 432 to 352, and the real head scratcher…

*Southwest time of possession; 33:54 - Millard West; 14:06. Go figure.

Just as Brady Belt kept Kirk Peterson’s forces in front, Silverhawk quarterback Jakob Ahlschwede was doing the same for the resurgent Lincoln Southwest squad. The 6-4, 185 senior hit 21 of 41 passes for 268 yards and 2 TDs. His main running back, Jacob Buckner contributed 120 yards on 26 carries and a score, but there were two critical turnovers on Silverhawks special teams that proved costly at the wrong time which prevented Southwest from closing the gap enough to gain the needed momentum.

Lincoln Southwest was certainly in the game throughout the first half, trading scores with the ‘Cats and trailing only 14-10 at the break. But Millard West’s second score of the game came after sophomore Kaedyn Oderman blocked a Dylan Jorgensen punt, setting up a short field and a Giavonni Guido 13 yard TD run a few plays later. Critical mistake No. 1

A second critical Silverhawks special teams error came on the kickoff following the 64 yard Brody Belt touchdown run to begin the 3rd quarter. Southwest looked ready to respond, driving all the way to the Millard West 14 before opportunistic Tyler Bandiera (#10) pirated a Jakob Ahlschwede pass.

The Silverhawk defense rose to occasion though, forcing a three and out on the Wildcats. Tyler Bandiera, also an All-State punting candidate, sent a booming Millard West punt all the way into the Southwest territory from his own 27 yard line. The Silverhawk punt return man muffed the catch and the Wildcat’s Grant Wilbeck pounced on the football.

No dice though, the ‘Cats were offside, forcing a do-over. Bandiera punted the ball from 5 yards deeper in his own territory……...and the same result occurred. Yep, the catch was botched and of all the crazy bounces of the afternoon, Wilbeck was there to recover the loose ball……..again.

Very next play, Guido nails senior Hunter Schnuerle (#8) with a 46 yard scoring strike and Millard West 28-10. 5:05 left 3rd quarter. Enough cushion for the Wildcats? Nope.

Jacob Buckner keyed the ensuing Lincoln SW drive with a nifty 24 yard kick return, setting up shop at the Silverhawk 40. Buckner eventually scored from the one, closing the gap to 28-17. But that would be as close as Southwest would get.

Two more Brody Belt touchdowns sealed the deal for the Wildcats, who had a 42-17 bulge before Southwest reserve Gabriel Davis ran it in from 19 yards away with 1:36 remaining to give the Silverhawks a little more respect when the final score was posted.

Belt led all rushers with his 228 yards on 15 touches/4 TDs. Jakob Ahlschwede of Southwest led the aerial stats with his 21 of 41 for 268 yards/2 touchdown day. The Silverhawks leading receiver for the afternoon was Justin Holm, who grabbed 9 Ahlschwede passes for 154 yards plus a score.

Also worth mentioning is Millard West’s Tyler Bandiera and his 4 punts that averaged 47.4 yards a boot. That kid really puts a charge into that football with excellent hang time. Going to come in handy for the ‘Cats sometime down the road.

It will be a short week for Millard West, as Peterson’s forces take their spotless record to Bellevue West to face the high scoring Thunderbirds under the Thursday Night Lights.

Lincoln Southwest will hit the road next Friday to face a Papillion LaVista South squad who lost to Lincoln High and Cedric Case, 46-17 tonight.

………………...1……..2……..3……..4……….T

Millard West....7……..7……..21……7……….42

Lincoln SW…..3……...7……...7……6……….23

1st Qtr.

MW….Brody Belt 61 Run……………………..PAT - Sam Fedde kick....0-7

LSW....Dylan Jorgensen 25 Field Goal…………………………………...3-7

2nd Qtr.

MW…..Giavonni Guido 13 Run………………..PAT - Fedde kick……...3-14

LSW….Justin Holm 19 pass from Ahlschwede...PAT - Jorgensen kick.. .10-14

3rd Qtr.

MW…...Belt 64 Run…………………………….PAT - Fedde kick……..10-21

MW…...Hunter Schuerle 46 pass from Guido….PAT - Fedde kick……..10-28

LSW….. Jacob Buckner 1 Run……………….PAT - Jorgensen kick….17-28

MW……Belt 13 Run………………………....PAT - Fedde kick……...17-35

4th Qtr.

MW……Belt 12 Run………………………....PAT - Fedde kick……...17-42

LSW…...Gabriel Davis 19 Run……………....PAT - Kick blocked…....23-42