Omaha's district A-5 championship came down to a matchup between two good teams, second-ranked Omaha Westside and fourth-ranked Millard South. Westside was looking to cap off an undefeated season that would have also netted a home-field advantage in the playoffs.
The Patriots had other plans though, as they stayed undefeated at home on the season, winning the game 14-13. The game winning play was a sack for a safety by Tate Hinrichs.
PATRIOTS WIN! PATRIOTS WIN! Patriots defeat Omaha Westside 14-13 in a Great High Football Game!!! Your Patriots are DISTRICT CHAMPIONS! Nice Job Fellas!!! @MSouthFootball pic.twitter.com/nnbdfo5kCx
— MSHS Activities (@MSHSactivities) October 19, 2018
Here are 5 thoughts on the game.
Playoff Intensity
Whenever you have a game with such high stakes between two good football teams, you have the possibility of a great game. We were definitely not disappointed by a tight defensive game with lots of drama. There were also some huge hits in the game, most notably Chase Perchal who had back-to-back big hits in consecutive plays.
Patriot pups
For as good as Millard South has been this season, the Patriots might still be a year away from reaching their full potential. The Patriots have a lot of underclassmen that contribute significantly to the team. Quarterback TJ Urban, running back Isaiah Harris, wide receiver/defensive back Chase Perchal, offensive lineman/defensive lineman Kohl Herbolsheimer and linebacker Tate Hinrichs are just a few of their best players who have at least another season to play.
TJ Urban’s time to shine
Coming into the game, there was a lot of buzz about sophomore Avante Dickerson for Westside but another sophomore made a statement. Millard South quarterback TJ Urban had a great night running the football from the quarterback spot. He’s a natural runner in the zone-read action. He will be fun to watch in the coming years.
Dickerson tough in run support
Dickerson played a huge role for the Warriors even in defeat. He didn’t face a lot of passes thrown his way but he was active in run support all night. It was tough running the football against Millard South consistently but he did have a few splash plays in the game offensively. Unfortunately, he had a costly fumble late in the game.
Watch out for Isaiah Harris
Yards were hard to come by on Thursday night but Millard South junior running back Isaiah Harris stood out. He did break a couple of long runs in the game including a 60-yard run for a touchdown. He runs tough between the tackles and is difficult to bring down. The state of Nebraska has some real talent at running back.
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.
