Neville's big 4th quarter leads York past Aurora, 33-14

1000 yard rusher Evan Neville ran for 89 yards and a touchdown in the 4th quarter to propel the Dukes past Aurora 33-14 in the Class B, District 6 championship game. The game was a battle of the wills on defense in the first half with York finally scoring with 17 seconds left, taking a 6-0 lead into the locker room at the break. The second half was in sharp contrast that saw the Dukes take a 13-0 lead before Aurora began matching touchdowns with them through the 3rd quarter. But it was Evan Neville's hard running and a key interception by Ryan Dolan that led the Dukes in the 4th quarter. Both teams advance to the playoffs which begin next Friday, November 1st.

The defenses ruled in the first quarter of play although York took it's opening drive and marched all the way to the Huskie 8 before coming up 4 yards short of a first down. Aurora's deepest penetration in the half was only to the York 45 yard line. But York really made a statement on the final drive of the half that started back on the Duke's 11 yard line. With only a minute 34 left in the half, quarterback Linden Kaliff executed a masterful 2 minute drill by completing 6 of 6 passes for 70 yards, the final 7 yards coming on a TD connection from Kaliff to outstanding sophomore wide receiver J. J. Schulz. A 15 yard personal foul penalty for a late out of bounds hit by a Huskie defender aided the drive.

York came out firing to open the second half. Starting on their own 35, quarterback Kaliff connected with Schulz on passes covering, 40, 11, and 9 yards, the latter being a scoring strike. The Huskies struck right back with a 65 yard drive of their own as powerful running back Brock Reichardt ripped of runs of 20 and 4 yards and SE Tobey Huebert had a 32 yard reception before big fullback Eli Bricker took it in for Aurora's first TD on a 1 yard plunge. Bricker kicked his own extra point and the Huskies were back in the game, trailing 13-7.

It took only 2 plays for York to answer that Aurora score. Starting at their own 35, Kaliff hit Ryan Dolan on for a 10 yard gain, then retreated and floated a sweetly executed screen pass to Evan Neville who danced his way 55 yards to the house. Dolan coaxed the point after kick through the uprights on a "pop fly" type boot and York widened the lead to 20-7 with 6:29 left in the 3rd. Aurora answered right back with an 8 play, three minute 23 second drive that started at their own 37 yard line. Senior QB Luke Standage came in the game in relief of starting quarterback Jake Kittle and directed the drive. Standage hooked up with Jack Ziska for a 9 yard gain then pulled off one of Aurora's fine trick plays. The 6-4 senior QB floated a flat pass to running back Brock Reichardt who then hit Ryan Dolan who had made his way past the York secondary. Dolan took it to the Duke's `11 yard line, Reichardt blasted his way to the 6, the Standage powered his way into the end zone for a 6 yard touchdown. Standage absorbed an unnecessary helmet to helmet hit after his scored but bounced right back up. York was penalized 15 yards for the hit, but in the meantime Aurora had pulled to within 20-14.

York began it's next scoring drive with 3 minutes left in the 3rd quarter following the Standage TD. The 80 yard, 11 play drive was keyed by Neville's 48 rushing yards, which included a powereful, twisting 20 yard TD scamper. The 185 pound senior's 20 yard run stretched York's lead to 26-14 with 10:26 left in the game, but the Huskies were poised to strike back. Brock Reichardt's fine kick return set up Aurora at their own 40 yard line and the senior RB ripped off runs of 14 and 3 yards to get the Huskies across mid field. Standage then fired an 18 yard completion to Colton Allen to put the Huskies in business at York's 32. But two plays later the Duke's Ryan Dolan pirated a Standage aerial at the 17 yard line and returned to the 29 to halt the Aurora drive.

York then comsumed all but :37.5 seconds of the clock and sent Hayden Robb into the end zone from 2 yards out to seal the 33-14 win.

The win was a sweet one for Coach Glen Snodgrass and his York forces. Personally, I can't recall the last time York beat Aurora. We're talking at least 20 years here. Evan Neville led the way for the Dukes with 137 yards on 26 carries, which increases his season rushing total to an unofficial 1,273 yards. Quarterback Linden Kaliff was a shining star passing the football, hitting on 18 of 26 throws for 290 yards and 3 touchdowns. Kaliff is still Class B's best passer, completing 94 of 154 of his 2013 passes for 1,670 yards and 12 TDs. Sophomore J.J. Schulz had an outstanding night, catching 7 of Kaliffs throws for 139 yards and 2 scores. Schulz also was a demon on defense for the Dukes. Hard running Brock Reichardt led Aurora's ground attack with 98 yards on 19 carries and led the Huskies to 121 return yards.

My playoff projections have both teams drawing a first round home game next Friday. I have York hosting 6-3 Scottsbluff and Aurora playing host to a 6-3 Plattsmouth squad. Playoff brackets are usually announced by the NSAA sometime on Saturday morning.