Wild 'Rider victory likely puts Southwest in state playoffs

PAXTON, Neb. — Playoffs, here they come!

Southwest’s horses made sure the Roughriders would deliver a 47-42 victory over Paxton Thursday evening.

The Roughriders (5-3 record) trailed three times, but senior Hunter Cunningham’s two touchdown passes of 40-plus yards put them in a permanent lead.

Senior Carter Van Pelt caught one TD in what turned into a 45-yard score.

Kaden Day then took another aerial strike 42 yards to give Southwest a 31-22 lead.

Coach Christian Arterburn’s boys showed how a team can triumph even though Paxton ran 25 more offensive plays.

The Tigers closed with 31-29 only to see Van Pelt take that ensuing kick 56 yards.

Technically, that’s not an offensive play nor was Cunningham’s PAT for a 39-29 lead.

Paxton (2-6) unleashed two more potential ambushes on the playoff road.

Yet Nathan Rippe dashed 19 yards to one Roughrider TD, and a final Cunningham PAT formed the 47-35 lead.

Tommy Markusson’s touchdown with just more than four minutes was not enough to catch Southwest.

Mitchell Stritt’s early TDs on 22 and 61-yard runs were also huge igniters for the visitors.

Stritt led the ’Rider rush attack, gaining 97 yards on 11 carries.

Rippe’s seven for 55, Cunningham’s five for 44 and VanPelt’s two for 25 meant four Southwest stars averaged eight yards or more each run.

They’ll likely run into the Six-Man playoffs starting next Friday.

Though nothing was official at press time, Southwest was listed 14 in power points and the top 16 advance into state playoffs.

Other ‘Rider leaders from Thursday’s win:

Passing: Hunter Cunningham 7 for 11, 139 yards and two TDs.

Receiving: Carter VanPelt 5 catches-86 yards-1 TD; Kaden Day 1-42-1 TD; Mitchel Stritt 1-11.

Takeaways: Hunter Blume 2 interceptions.

Joe Eakins’ 100 rushing yards helped lead the Paxton effort.

Markussen added 74 yards while completing 17 passes in 32 attempts for 151 with one TD.