Kearney running game too much for Omaha Westside

Kearney's Miko Maessner (left) and Kanon Koster (right) were too much for Omaha Westside in the Class A semifinal at Foster Field. *(photo by Bobby Mills)

KEARNEY - The return of Kearney quarterback Kanon Koster, the inside running of Matt Stute and the late season emergence of sophomore speed demon Miko Maessner, made a trip to Central Nebraska a rough one for Omaha Westside.

The relentless rushing attack by Kearney, coupled with the equally relentless pass rush by their defense, resulted in a 33-17 quarterfinal win for the undefeated Bearcats over Omaha Westside on a perfect, windless night for football.

The No. 1 seeded Bearcats unleashed a three headed rushing monster that was buoyed by an offensive line that was off the ball like a group of Usain Bolts. There were times the Westside defense was left wondering “who went where”.

Kearney nearly had three 100 yard running backs, on their way to a 351 rushing yard night.

While Koster directed the potent ground attack, the Cats defensive pass rush and the superb coverage by the Bearcat D-backs and linebackers, resulted in 3 interceptions by Westside All-State QB candidate, Dylan Plautz.

The 6-2, 210 pound Westside sharpshooter entered the semifinal contest completing 68% of his throws for 2,561 yards and 27 touchdowns with only 9 INTs. His final stat line looked like a fairly successful outing for the senior, passing for 309 yards, but the 3 interceptions and only one touchdown for the game, tell a different story.

It was a tight game in the first quarter. Kearney pulled a daring stunt right off the get-go when super coach Brandon Cool had punter Kanon Koster take off on a 4th and 6 at the Kearney 37. And on their second drive of the game, no less.

The Bearcats converted on the 4th down dare and worked their way to the Westside 37 where they faced a 4th and 9. The Warriors Dylan Bruggeman then pirated a Kanon Koster pass, but Westside would have taken over on an incomplete pass anyway.

Omaha Westside then converted their initial drive of the game into some points when Griffin Trude nailed a 38 yard field goal, giving the 8th seeded Warriors a 3-0 lead with 6:59 left in the first.

Kearney then answered on the very first play of the 2nd quarter when Miko Maessner took the handoff from Koster, swept left, cut back inside, put a quick-as-a-wink hip move on a Westside defender and was gone.

The 71 yard TD gallop by Maessner gave the Bearcats a 7-3 lead, a lead they would never relinquish.

Nine minutes later it was time for Kearney to showcase the inside running of Matt Stute. The senior I-Back, who is fleet of foot himself, ripped off a 24 yard gain, aided the the quick opening hole by the left side of the Cats O-Line.

The very next snap, the very same play, the very same opening resulted in a 10 yard touchdown for Stute. The clock read 13-3 Bearcats with 2:10 left till the halftime break.

Kearney actually had a shot to add a field goal before the half ended, but the 30 yard try by Gabe Heins was wide.

Omaha Westside came out firing in the 3rd quarter. Dylan Plautz had been held to 8-15 passing for just 100 yards and 2 interceptions in the first half, but the poised senior wasted no time marching the Warriors 71 yards downfield for a score.

Plautz hit his favorite target, All-Stater Caleb Schweigart for an 8 yard TD strike and Westside was within 13-10.

The play that turned the tide came late in the third quarter by Kearney. The Cats, facing a 3rd and two at their own 43, saw the Westside defense crowding nearly everybody in the box to stuff the anticipated run play. But what transpired next was one of the best executed offensive plays I’ve seen this season.

It went like this. Snap, Bang, and in one quick blink of an nervous, twitching eye, Miko Maessner was through the Warrior defense. Three steps past the line of scrimmage, through a gaping hole, Maessner took off untouched and so all-by-himself the sensational sophomore could have stopped, taken a deep bow, and continued on his 57 yard TD journey.

Maessner looked like a human comet on the scoring sprint.

The Bearcats added two short Matt Stute touchdown runs in the 4th quarter while Dylan Plautz was frantically trying to air out the ball for Omaha Westside to no avail. It just simply seemed like someone from that Kearney defense was always there to foil the the Warrior quarterback’s pass attempts.

Westside did manage to post a late score when Ethan Shepard took one in from 7 yard line. The TD run was setup after Plautz hooked up with buddy Caleb Schweigart for one final sweet 47 yard pass hookup. Just 42 seconds remained in the game when Shepard stepped across the North end zone goal line.

Miko Maessner led all rushers with 175 yards and two touchdowns on just 12 carries. The sophomore sensation also had a 63 yard TD called back in the 2nd half. Matt Stute added 120 yards and 3 TDs on 24 totes, while Kanon Koster fought his way for 78 yards on 16 carries.

I had Omaha Westside QB Dylan Plautz for 24 of 48 passes for 309 yards and one touchdown and three picks. Thousand yard rusher Jaden Kohls was held to 48 yards on 7 carries, all in the first half. All-State WR Caleb Schweigart hauled in 11 receptions for an unofficial 117 yards and a TD.

Kearney will host Creighton Prep next Friday in a Class A semifinal game. Prep beat Bellevue West 25-16.

The Bearcats incidentally, just beat Creighton Prep (9-2), 24-7 back on October 13th at Foster Field. Omaha North will face Omaha Burke in the other Class A semifinal matchup.

…………………………..….1……..2……..3……..4……….T

Omaha Westside (8-3).....3……..0……..7……..7………17

Kearney (11-0)..................0…….13…….7…….13.….....33

1st Qtr.

OW - Griffin Trude 38 FG…………………………………………………....0-3

2nd Qtr.

Kea - Miko Massner 71 run…………………….PAT-Heins kick..(11:49)..7-3

Kea - Matt Stute 10 run………………………...PAT-Kick failed..(2:10)...13-3

3rd Qtr.

OW - Caleb Schweigart 8 pass from Plautz…PAT-Trude kick..(9:09)..13-10

Kea - Miko Maessner 57 run…………………..PAT-Heins kick..(4:05)..20-10

4th Qtr.

Kea - Matt Stute 8 run………………………....PAT-Heins kick..(11:19).27-10

Kea - Matt Stute 3 run………………………....PAT- Kick failed.(1:51)...33-10

OW - Ethan Shepard 7 run…………………....PAT Trude kick..(0:42)...33-17