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Late Longhorn rumble dooms DC-S in semifinals
BURWELL, Neb. — Burwell’s first-down “chain gang” marveled at what Dundy County-Stratton brought to the Class D-1 state semifinal Monday evening.
“This is fun. This is a great game,” they all agreed even though their favorite powerhouse Longhorns were locked in a 8-8 tie with D-1’s new kids on the block.
Get used to these Tigers hanging around.
Sure, two late miscues doomed DC-S and allowed Burwell to turn a 14-10 thriller into the eventual 28-10 state playoff victory.
Sadness and some frustration clearly surrounded the Tigers considering it wasn’t a vaunted Longhorn ground attack that decided this huge contest.
Instead, Burwell blocked an early fourth-quarter Tiger punt.
Hustling senior/state wrestler Corey Dawe fell on this loose football for a touchdown. When an ensuing two-point pass zipped past DC-S defenders, Burwell suddenly led 22-10.
“Special plays often decide games like this,” DC-S coach Mike Spargo said. “You have to be solid in all three phases (offense, defense, special teams).”
The Tigers were marching towards one terrific TD answer until a dreaded FUMBLE!!! turned momentum again.
Burwell (10-2 record) also turned this opportunity into six quick points — and DC-S really could never answer with barely more than five minutes remaining.
Yet mere moments later, Spargo’s smile emphasized how a three-hour journey to defeat wouldn’t change these Tigers’ relentless drive.
“These guys love the weight room,” Spargo declared. “They are dedicated to what they are doing.”
“Sure, we’re sad about losing a semifinal game, it’s tough for our seniors who have done so much for this team,” the coach added. “But this is something no one would of thought about four years ago. We are going in the right direction.”
Only four seniors — Lane Shillington, Reice Haines, Dominic Sis and Jesus Olivas — finished their Tiger football careers Monday evening.
Sis, Shillington and Haines all led a stellar defensive start for DC-S.
Remember, mighty Burwell had averaged 56.3 points during its three previously playoff wins — including 10 rushing touchdowns in a 71-48 win over Cambridge one week ago.
The Longhorns didn’t reach half that point total Monday night with tough senior back Jace Williams only gaining 27 yards on 10 first-half rushes.
“Our defense came up huge for sure,” Spargo confirmed.
Massive freshman tackle Samuel Fasso also stepped up to clog inside running lanes.
The Tigers stopped two early fourth-down Burwell rush attempts, one inside their own two-yard line.
Meanwhile, the dynamic DC-S 1,00o-yard-plus punch of junior Serbando Diaz and sophomore quarterback Quade Myers began making great gains.
Blockers Olivas, Sis, Reice Haines and junior Delton Haines drove larger Longhorns away on a super first-quarter voyage.
Diaz swept around left end for almost 10 yards to Burwell’s three.
Exactly two players later, Myers dashed around the right side and reached that TD pylon before any Longhorn could challenge him.
Myers’ ensuing two-point pass to Reice Haines finished an 8-0 first quarter.
However, another of those special-team plays seemingly awoke the Longhorns as one chain-gang Burwell dad proclaimed “they better wake up.”
The Longhorns soon fumbled a punt which DC-S was oh-so-close to recovering near Burwell’s five-yard line.
“That would have been a huge play,” Spargo confirmed.
Burwell somehow kept the football, promptly started a 75-yard first scoring drive.
The Longhorns confirmed what coach Luke Gideon said last week: they can throw a football.
Quarterback Barak Birch stepped around Tiger pressure before spotting Williams over the middle for what turned into about a 17-yard TD pass.
Rather than trailing 14-0 or 16-0, another perfect throw to sophomore Alex Gideon forged an 8-8 deadlock into halftime.
Burwell delivered another strong drive starting the second half while taking a 14-8 advantage.
Yet the Tigers stopped another Longhorn threat. Eventually, an errant snap over the punter’s head went through for a safety and pulled DC-S within 14-10.