Columbus holds on to extinguish Omaha Northwest playoff hopes, 24-20.

Omaha Northwest record setting RB Joe Miller has the "agony of defeat" look after their 24-20 loss to Columbus Thursday night. *(photo by Bobby Mills)

-PAWNEE PARK, COlUMBUS, NE-

Columbus overcame a rash of penalties, crushed a 4 game losing streak, and played some spirited bend-but-don’t break second half defense, to turn back a much improved Omaha Northwest team, 24-20.

The Discoverers, who had been outscored 192 to 31 the past 4 weeks, scored on their first 4 possessions of the game, then played some smash mouth second half defense to end their 2018 campaign on a high note.

Columbus knew they would have their hands full before the contest even started, with Class A’s leading rusher, Joe Miller coming to town. The sensational 6-4, 208 pound Miller, who was playing his first season of varsity football, had racked up 1,394 yards and 17 touchdowns coming this game, and was ready to explode and give his Omaha Northwest team a shot at making the playoffs, despite their 3-5 record.

The way the game started, it looked like a track meet with both teams headed for a score in the 40’s.

Discoverer speed merchant Joey Braasch started the game with an explosion, a 71 yard touchdown sprint down the Columbus sidelines the very 1st play from scrimmage. Garrett Esch booted the PAT, and Coach Craig Williams squad had a 7-0 lead with only 18 seconds expired off the Pawnee Park scoreboard clock.

Omaha Northwest waited only a minute and 3 seconds to answer Joey’s long distance shocker. On the Huskies 3rd play from scrimmage, the skillful Joe Miller took pitch from QB Preston Sherwood and scorched the artificial turf down the same sideline Joey Braasch did his 71 yard thing.

Miller left the Discoverer defense in his rear view, cruising in to hit paydirt from 80 yards away. Sherwood hit junior Jace Cooper with a double PAT conversion pass and the Huskies were on top, 8-7.

Garrett Esch gave Columbus 3 points on the the Discoverers following possession with his picture perfect 33 yard field goal.

Northwest then answered right back, when Preston Sherwood nailed Miller with 4 yard scoring aerial. Sherwood, the senior field general, hooked up with a very athletic Javon Sherrod for a sweet 56 yard completion on a 3rd and 10 play to keep that drive alive. The pass connection went all the way from the Huskie 27 to the Columbus 17 yard line.

Omaha Northwest had a 14-10 lead after one stanza, but that 4 point cushion vanished one play into the 2nd quarter when Garrett Esch scooted down the Columbus sidelines on a 42 yard reverse play that caught the Huskie defense looking the opposite way.

Trailing 17-14, Northwest then capitalized on a Columbus fumble, turning the mistake into 6 points when Preston Sherwood hit Gage Newman for a 17 yard TD pass with 6:54 left until halftime.

The Discoverer “D” then kicked into gear to force a Omaha Northwest punt. Craig Williams then sent the offense back to the field, and sophomore quarterback CJ Fleeman and company prceeded to drive 62 yards down the Pawnee Park turf, despite a holding infraction and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

Fleeman eventually found senior WR Cade Fullner on a slick 25 yard TD pass with just 35 ticks remaining in the half. The Houdini-like Fullner appeared to be stopped at the 12 yard line on the play, but then suddenly squirted out of the pile for the go-ahead score.

The Pawnee Park scoreboard read Columbus 24, Omaha Northwest 20, when the half came to a close. But then as quickly as the offensive track meet began…..it ended right then and there.

The second half was a mix bag of personal foul penalties by both teams, mostly caused by comments by players, and some stout defense by both sides. There were missed opportunities by both Omaha Northwest and Columbus, some outstanding running by Northwest star Joe Miller, and terrific goal line stands by both defenses.

The Huskies did have one huge shot at the end zone in the 4th quarter, but the Discoverers Kasten Grape sacked Huskie QB Preston Sherwood at the Columbus 15. That set up a 4th and goal but Northwest, without a place kicker, was forced to go for it and Sherwood’s pass was batted harmlessly away into the Columbus night to kill the Omaha NW drive.

The Huskies had one more shot at a comeback, but were buried at their own 28 yard line when Cade Fullner pirated a Sherwood aerial, ending the Huskies chance at a victory and snuffing out their playoff hopes for 2018 in the process.

Both teams end their seasons with 3-6 records. The one huge bright spot for Omaha Northwest was Joe Miller’s 218 yards on 28 carries.

The 218 yard night sends Miller’s season rushing total to an unofficial 1,613 yards. If official, that would break the great Damon Benning’s 27 year old Omaha Northwest single season rushing record of 1,584 yards, set back in 1991. Benning, of course, would go on to become a star for the Nebraska football team after ruling the gridiron for Omaha Northwest.

For Columbus, QB CJ Fleeman concluded his night completing 15 of 23 passes for 164 yards, a touchdown and three INTs. Joey Braasch caught 7 of Fleeman’s tosses for 71 yards and also led all Discoverer rushers with 106 yards on just 10 carries, which included that sparkling 71 yard TD run.

Omaha Northwest quarterback Preston Sherwood hit 13 of his 27 passes for 169 yards and pair of touchdowns, while suffering 3 INTs. Gage Newman ha 5 receptions for 53 yards, but it was the very talented Javon Sherrod who led all Huskie receivers with his 74 yards on just two catches

The Huskies won the total offense battle 378 to the Discoverers 298 total yards.

I will be eventually be asked if Omaha Northwest dandy Joe Miller is a prime prospect to play at the next level. At this point, I think someone should give this young man that opportunity. He has only just begun to scratch his high potential as a football player.

……………………...…………....1……..2……..3……..4….…….F

Omaha Northwest (3-6)..........14….…6.….....0……..0...…….20

Columbus (3-6).......................10…....14….....0.…….0……....24

…………………...…………………………………………………………..……...ONW-Col

1st Qtr.

Col..Joey Braasch 71 Run……………………...PAT-Garrett Eschkick…………..0…..7

NW..Joe Miller 80 Run……………….....………PAT-Sherwood to Cooper pass..8…..7

Col...Garrett Esch 33 Yard Field Goal……………………………………………….8….10

NW..Joe Miller 4 Run…………………………...PAT-Pass failed………………….14...10

2nd Qtr.

Col..Garrett Esch 42 Run……………………....PAT-Esch kick…………………....14...17

NW..Gage Newman 17 pass from Sherwood..PAT-Run failed…………………...20...17

Col..Cade Fullner 25 pass from CJ Fleeman...PAT-Esch kick…………………....20...24