Lane Edis, Mullen defense smother Giltner 53-8

Mullen star running back Lane Edis (center) is pictured with his father Wade Edis (left) in a rare Father/Son 1000 Yard Rushers photo. Wade Edis still owns the Single Season rushing record at Mullen. (2,728 yards-1990) *(photo by Bobby Mills)

GILTNER - Mullen’s star junior running back Lane Edis found no running room on the game’s opening snap.

But it was all downhill from there for the Giltner Hornets, as the undefeated Broncos scored on every single possession but one, cruising to a 39-0 halftime lead, then eventually a 53-8 win.

It was a simple formula for this Mullen team, pitch the ball to Lane Edis, let the powerful offensive line lead the way and let Mr. Edis do his thing.

And that, he did.

The 180 pound Edis, now a two-time 1000 yard rusher, scored four first half touchdowns, three of those coming in the Broncos 31 point second quarter explosion.

Meanwhile, Mullen’s defense was all over Giltner’s superb QB Alex Goracke, limiting the 1,700 passer to 6 of 12 passing and 74 yards in the opening half. All-State lineman Tell Spiehs, Ty Durfee, Clayton Hassett and Kayden Licking were all over Goracke like a cheap suit, delivering at least three sacks during first 24 minutes.

Former Mullen coach, and future 8-Man Hall of Famer Mike Brown told me before the game started that you never know how your team is going to fare when they travel East in the playoffs. But if you know Coach Brown like I do, you know that Brownie’s Bronco teams have always fared well facing Eastern teams in the post-season.

Mullen set the tone for this one on the opening drive, consuming 6 minutes, 21 seconds on an “Edis efficient” 60 yard drive. The Mullen junior scored on a 2 yard run, then added his own double PAT run, giving the Broncos an early 8-0 lead.

The Giltner defense did force a punt on Mullen’s second possession, and the quarter came to a close with the Hornets trailing only 8-0.

It was all Mullen after that as the Top seeded Broncos turned Edis loose for three 2nd quarter touchdowns.

First, Edis dashed in from the 16, then added a third touchdown on sweet 46 yard scamper. The Broncos were on their way to another score when the Hornets defense finally stiffened, forcing a 4th and goal at the Hornets 7 yard line.

Instead of calling Lane Edis number or attempting a rare Mullen pass, Broncos head coach Mitch Pfeiffer sent in 190 pound lineman Koby Walker to attempt a 27 yard field goal amidst comments from the Bronco faithful behind me like, “are you kidding me, we never try a field goal.”

But big Koby Walker, who taught himself to place kick and perform the kickoffs soccer-style, sent the ball straight through the uprights, causing a rash of dropped jaws from those same Mullen folks.

Luke Christen recovered a Giltner fumble on the ensuing kickoff, leading to a Lane Edis 10 yard scoring dash with 1:08 left in the second stanza.

Koby Walker then booted the ball through the Giltner end zone following the Edis score.

On the very next snap for the Hornets, Goracke took a step back, turned to his right, then fired a lazy pass. Reading it perfectly, the same Koby Walker picked off the Goracke floater and took it 15 yards for the Pick 6.

Two scores in a span of ten seconds really took the sails of out the Giltner Hornets.

On the opposite side of all this Mullen scoring, the Bronco “D” was simply giving Alex Goracke little time to throw, and when he did connect, the receivers were paying the price.

Giltner did fashion a nice 3rd quarter opening drive, with Goracke mixing in some nice pass completions to Brodi Hansen and Rees Lyon. The drive made in inside the Mullen 10 before the Hornets went in reverse, thanks to sacks by Tell Spiehs and Ty Durfee. Giltner was at the Mullen 34 when the drive stalled.

Lane Edis then scored his 5th and final TD of the game on a 33 yard sprint, making it 45-0 after three quarters.

The Hornets finally put together a great 65 yard drive that culminated with an Alex Goracke to Josh Hinrichs 24 yard scoring toss. Hinrichs, the 180 pound senior wide-out, made a terrific catch on the touchdown grab.

During one stretch in the second half, the sharpshooting Alex Goracke completed 12 straight passes, playing vintage Giltner football.

Mullen’s reserves closed out the scoring when hard running,155 pound junior Justin Weins shed some would-be Giltner tacklers, enroute to a sparkling 24 yard touchdown gallop.

Lane Edis ended the night with 186 yards on 23 carries and 5 TDs. That raises his 2017 rushing total to an unofficial 1,869 yards with 40 touchdowns.

The Broncos Brady Gracey attempted only four passes, completing his lone connection to Ty Durfee for a 35 yard pickup.

Giltner ended the game with a minus 23 rushing yards, but Alex Goracke did hit 22 of his 30 passes for 228 yards and a score. Reece Lyon caught 6 Goracke aerials for 80 yards, while Josh Hinrichs added 6 for 46 yards and that 24 yard TD reception.

Mullen now advances to the Class D-2 quarterfinals next Tuesday and will host Lawrence-Nelson, who defeated Garden County 26-14 in Oshkosh Wednesday afternoon.

…………………….1……..2……..3……..4……….T

Mullen (10-0)........8…….31…….6……..8……....53

Giltner (6-4)..........0……..0……..0……..8……….8

1st Qtr.

M - Lane Edis 2 run…………………………….PAT-Edis run..(5:39)..0-8

2nd Qtr.

M - Lane Edis 16 run…………………………..PAT-run failed..(9:39)..0-14

M - Lane Edis 46 run…………………………..PAT-Weins run..(3:24)..0-22

M - Koby Walker 27 Field Goal…………………………………..(2:25)..0-25

M - Lane Edis 10 run…………………………..PAT-run failed...(1:08)..0-31

M - Koby Walker 15 Interception return……..PAT-Edis run….(0:58)..0-39

3rd Qtr.

M - Lane Edis 33 run…………………………..PAT-run failed..(3:57)...0-45

4th Qtr.

G - Josh Hinrichs 24 pass from Goracke…...PAT-Goracke to Linden..(11:15)..8-45

M - Justin Weins 24 run……………………….PAT-Kessler run..(6:38)..8-53