Hail Varsity was on the scene at Seacrest Field in Lincoln on Friday night to take in a rivalry game between the Lincoln Southeast Knights and Lincoln Southwest Silver Hawks. The game was very competitive with a lot of action. The Knights took the game in the end by a score of 28-21. They moved to 2-0 on the season while Lincoln Southwest fell to 0-2.
Here are my five thoughts from the game.
Mentally tough Knights
It was a back-and-forth game on Friday night. Both teams showed a lot of resiliency by sticking in the game. After the game Lincoln Southeast coach Ryan Gottula explained how he felt about his team sticking with it through adversity.
“That is what I’m most proud of,” Gottula said. “There are some things that we got to get better at. We talked about that. But the one thing that we are really good at right now is competing. These guys are going to compete until it’s zeros on the clock.
“We still had some cramping issues again tonight but those guys fought through it and they’re going to play until the end. I’m extremely proud of our kids and how much fight they have at the end of the game.”
Teitum Tuioti on the rise
Class of 2023 prospect Teitum Tuioti is certainly a player to look out for. He’s made a big jump from his sophomore year to junior season. He’s bigger than he was last season (6-2, 216) and moves well. Tuioti is also fundamentally sound. Even on rushes where he doesn’t get to the quarterback he’s able to tip balls. He also makes the quarterback change his throwing angle if he doesn’t get home. He was very active on Friday night and it’s surprising he doesn’t have more than seven offers.
Jake Appleget always makes plays
If you ever get a chance to check out a Lincoln Southeast game Jake Appleget will stand out immediately. He’s always around the football on defense. He’s there for the Knights when a play needs to be made. He just has a knack for making big plays. The future Husker had a pair of touchdowns in the game including a nice catch in double coverage for a score.
25-yard TD catch by #Huskers commit @ApplegetJake. He Mossed two guys at n the play. Good PAT and @SoutheastFB leads 14-7 with 5:39 left in the 1Q. #nebpreps pic.twitter.com/lXGdxirKE7
— Greg Smith (@GregSmithHV) September 4, 2021
Impressed with Lincoln Southwest
It’s tough to start the season 0-2 like the Silver Hawks have. It’s even more difficult when you’ve played a pair of future playoff teams and lost by a combined 15 points. Lincoln Southwest plays tough defense led by defender Jake Leader. He had a big game on Friday night. Their offense has a nice one-two punch at running back Cal Newell and Ashton Wright. The schedule makers didn’t do them any favors with their next two games, at Omaha North and home for Elkhorn South. But if they keep progressing they could bounce back nicely this season.
Gunnar Gottula paves the way
Back when the Huskers’ 2023 offensive line commit was a freshman he had the sixe to be on the recruiting radar. Each year he’s continued to improve his game. Gottula has quick feet for a player his size (6-4, 280) and he plays with good leverage. When Southeast needs yards on the ground they’d let baseball commit Max Buettenback run behind the left tackle. Gottula ceiling is sky-high as he continues getting ready to play in the Big Ten one day.
Greg is the Recruiting Analyst for Hail Varsity and has covered Husker athletics since 2013. He has always had a passion for sports while growing up in the Chicago area. As he got older and had to hang up his cleats and sneakers, he realized his passion for sports went beyond just watching and attending games. He has covered many events from the Rose Bowl to championship boxing matches. If he’s not talking sports, he’s hovering over his grill. He is married to an amazing woman, Kim, and they have a dog that barks when Greg yells at the TV during games.
