Cambridge hopes to add yet another state football title

Thursday, November 20, 2003
Cambridge defenders Chase Shifflet (black 22) and Marcus Vontz (black 24) take down a Sutherland receiver during the first round of the Nebraska Class C2 state playoffs Oct. 30 at Cambridge.

CAMBRIDGE -- "Cambridge football" and "state championship game" just sound as if they were meant to go together.

The Trojans' football machine will roll into Lincoln once again for the Nebraska Class C2 state championship title.

The Trojans will play Crofton for the state title at 11 a.m. Friday at Memorial Stadium. Both teams are 12-0.

Cambridge won five state championships -- 1993-94-96-97-98 -- and in each of those seasons posted a 13-0 record. The Trojans also won a state title in 1987, placed second in 1992 and reached the semifinals in 1999 and 2000.

The Trojans have won 134 of 149 games since 1990, including a 109-10 record in the 1990s. Cambridge has also qualified for the state playoffs every year since 1990.

But all of that history doesn't concern Cambridge football coach Dan Keyser as much as Friday's state title matchup with Crofton.

"They're undefeated," Keyser said. "They're a very big team. They're very aggressive, they play good defense and ball control offense.

"The question is can we stop them. We try to be competitive in each game."

Cambridge has outscored its opponents 405-94 this season. The Trojans have rushed for 3,267 yards and passed for 1,167.

Fullback Matt Sexton leads the Trojans in rushing with 1,084 yards and has scored 11 touchdowns. Chase Shifflet has 843 yards and 16 TDs.

Sophomore quarterback Waid Vontz has rushed for 12 TDs and thrown nine TD passes. He has 426 yards rushing in addition to the 1,147 yards passing.

Whitney Jones leads the Trojans' defense with 91 tackles and five sacks. Nate Toon has 73 tackles and three interceptions. Derik Light has eight interceptions and Marcus Vontz three.

The Warriors' leading rusher is William Mech, who has gained 1,130 yards and has scored 12 touchdowns. He has also caught four TD passes.

Rhett Sandvig has rushed for 985 yards and nine TDs. Brett Mueller has 4-1 yards rushing and five TDs. Kyle Suing tops the team in catches with 23 for 450 yards and five TDs.

Quarterback Nick Jansen has passed for 1,017 yards and rushed for 433. He has seven TD passes and 11 TDs rushing.

Crofton has outscored its opponents 415-123 and has 4,443 total yards compared to 1,916 for the opposition.

Mueller leads the Warriors with 106 tackles. Sandvig has 15 quarterbacks and Suing 14. Tony Filips has five interceptions.

Keyser said the early kickoff time Friday should not bother him, his coaching staff and the team.

"Any time is a great time to play at Memorial Stadium," he said.

Keyser said he is proud that two other Southwest Nebraska teams will be vying for state titles.

McCook takes aim at its second straight Class B state title at 7:30 p.m. Saturday against Omaha Bishop Roncalli.

Chase County plays for the Class C1 state title at 1 p.m. Saturday against Bishop Neumann.

"We wish the Bison and the Longhorns good luck," Keyser said.

CAMBRIDGE STARTERS

OFFENSE

WR -- Matt Depperschmidt (7), 188, sr.

WR -- Marcus Vontz (24), 152, sr.

TE -- Whitney Jones (82), 181, sr.

LT -- Anthony Hopkins (73), 225, so.

LG -- Kevin Jones (76), 165, sr.

C -- Travis Maatsch (61), 178, sr.

RG -- Trevor Lee (69), 170, sr.

RT -- Tristan Foster (65), 275, sr.

QB -- Waid Vontz (12), 174, so.

FB -- Matt Sexton (35), 184, sr.

TB -- Chase Shifflet (22), 139, sr.

DEFENSE

LE -- Blake Soucie (78), 217, sr.

LT -- Tristan Foster (65), 275, sr.

RT -- Bronson Soucie (67), 214, so.

RE -- Whitney Jones (82), 181, sr.

OLB -- Waid Vontz (12), 174, so.

ILB -- Matt Sexton (35), 184, sr.

ILB -- Nate Toon (86), 166, sr.

OLB -- Matt Depperschmidt (7), 188, sr.

CB -- Marcus Vontz (24), 152, sr.

CB -- Tyler Keyser (21), 130, jr.

FS -- Derik Light (14), 164, sr.

SPECIAL TEAMS

P/PK -- Chase Shifflet (22), 139, sr.

Waid Vontz (12), 174, so.

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