by Stephanie Croston
scroston@sewardindependent.com
It wasn’t perfect, but the Seward football team got a stop when it needed to and held on to beat Lincoln Pius X 21-20 Nov. 1 in the opening round of the Class B playoffs.
“I’m lucky to coach a team that knows how to battle a team that knows that every point and every play matters, a team that keeps playing the next play and understands that we are not looking to be perfect in all aspects, but we do expect perfect effort each and every play,” SHS Coach Jamie Opfer said.
The teams traded scores all night. After a scoreless first quarter, Seward’s Tresten Hass found Jack Vyhnalek for a 50-yard touchdown pass at the start of the second quarter.
Pius answered with a 36-yard TD pass of its own.
On the next Pius possession, Ed Knott intercepted a pass and raced 46 yards for six points to put the Jays ahead with 6:44 to play in the half. The Thunderbolts tied the score again with 25 seconds to go, and the teams went to the locker room tied at 14-14.
Seward got back on the board in the fourth quarter, thanks to another Hess to Vyhnalek connection, this one for 19 yards.
With 3:26 to play in the game, Pius scored on a 10-yard pass play to make the score 21-20.
“Instead of choosing to tie the game with a PAT, they went for the two-point conversion on a hook and ladder and were denied by our defensive group,” Opfer said. “It was the defining play in a game that could have gone either way in a tight match up all night long.”
Seward’s defense was key to the victory, the coach said, citing three Pius turnovers – two interceptions and a fumble. In addition to Knott’s pick-six, Kolten Green grabbed an interception and recovered a fumble.
Vyhnalek finished the game with 87 receiving yards on four catches. Hass completed 15 of 25 attempts.
Caden Schadwinkel led the defense with six solo tackles and six assists. He also forced the Pius fumble.
Seward (10-0) gets another rematch Friday, Nov. 8. The Jays will host Gretna East (7-3), their first opponent of the season, at 7 p.m.
“Gretna East is a team that is playing its best football right now. They have a lot of depth, and it’s going to be a challenge to handle the pressure they bring,” Opfer said.
He doesn’t expect to see anything new from the Griffins.
“If you stray too far away from what got you here, you are making it hard for your kids to play at the speed you would like them to,” he said.
