A lot is new for the Malcolm football team this season. New head coach. New quarterback. But in the Aug. 29 season opener at North Bend Central, something felt familiar — the Clippers can still score in bunches and play tough defense.
Malcolm scored on its first seven possessions and cruised to a 49-8 win over the Tigers in a game played with a running clock almost the entire second half.
The new quarterback, junior Gavin Little, connected with Nolan Duzik on a 35-yard pass three minutes into the game — the first of four touchdown tosses on the night. Early in the second quarter, Little found Preston Kucera for a 19-yard strike to make it 14-0.
“Gavin had a great camp,” first-year head coach Matt Coufal said. “We knew he’d be alright in his first start.”
After the Malcolm defense forced a three-and-out, the Clippers leaned on the run, stringing together a more than five-minute drive capped by a three-yard touchdown run from Miles McGill.
“When we can run the ball, we can also control the clock,” Coufal said. “If we can shorten the game and stay in control, those are good things.”
A 32-yard punt return by Kucera set up another quick strike, with Little finding Eli Wollberg from eight yards out to send the Clippers into halftime up 28-0.
“We have a group of receivers that play with a ton of confidence,” Coufal said. “They’ve got good hands and enough speed to create separation.”
The turbo clock was triggered just 20 seconds into the second half when Little kept on a zone read and raced 57 yards straight up the middle of the field.
“It was a great read by Gavin,” Coufal said. “He got some help down about 35 yards down field with a great block by Preston (Kucera) that allowed him to get to the end zone.”
Later, Little connected with Jake Walters on a 25-yard touchdown pass before Austin Sykes added a fourth-quarter score on the ground.
NBC’s lone touchdown came late against Malcolm reserves.
The Clippers racked up 392 yards of total offense. Little accounted for 274 of them, completing 16 of 20 passes for 209 yards while adding 65 rushing yards. Malcolm’s defense held the Tigers to 155 total yards.
“Our defense did some good things,” Coufal said. “It was a good first game all around.”
Malcolm (1-0) hosts Grand Island Central Catholic (1-0) Friday at 5 p.m. The Crusaders, led by highly touted quarterback Grayson Sack, are coming off a 44-0 win over Hastings St. Cecilia.
“They use their passing game like a running game,” Coufal said. “A lot of short passes where they try to create space. They will definitely present some challenges.”
The early kickoff is due to Malcolm losing two light poles in the Aug. 9 windstorm. New lights and poles are being installed this month.
