Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Potter-Dix’s Coyote football team hosted the quarterfinal round of the D6 playoffs Friday afternoon, and defeated the visiting Parkview Christian Patriots 70-34 to advance to the semifinal round of the D6 playoffs.
This victory pushes the Coyotes’ record to 10-0 on the season and marks the first time the Potter-Dix team has advanced to the semi-final round of the playoffs.
On an sunshine soaked afternoon with 70-degree weather and a slight breeze, the teams squared off in front of a bring crowd, and impressive number of Parkview Christian fans that made the five and a half hour trip out from Lincoln. The Patriots came into the game with a 7-2 record, and big win over Silver Lake to move them into the next playoff round, an impressive feat for a team only two years into 6-Man play.
Luke Kasten rushed for 185 yards on 17 carries, went 12-17 through the air for 119 yards and two touchdowns, and had five receptions for 54 yards. He scored six touchdowns in the victory, running for three, passing for two and catching one. The Potter-Dix defense again came up big, forcing four turnovers. Thomas Muldoon finished with 68 yards receiving and two interceptions, and Niko Koon had an interception and a fumble return for a touchdown.
Parkview Christian was led by Chandler Page, who carried 21 times for 216 yards and three TDs, and also threw for a touchdown in the loss.
The Coyotes were able to answer a big question about their ability to play a “full game.” With so many lopsided victories this season, the Coyotes rarely had to go full speed in the second half in almost all of their contests. But the Parkview Christian team challenged them in the second and third quarters, and the Coyotes responded by turning their energy and effort up, and slammed the door an any chance the Patriots would come back in the game. As they move to the semifinals, the Potter-Dix team knows it can go four quarters at full speed, and not get tired out by the fourth quarter.
Last year, they lost in the quarter-final round to Cody-Kilgore, and the team felt they had been “out-physicaled” and “ran out of gas” in that contest. They made a commitment to not let that happen again, and immediately started their off-season training regime with workouts in the weight room and increasing their endurance. The effort paid off as they were able to put down a team that challenged them deeper into a game then they were used to, and were able to find another gear and put away their opponent.
Potter-Dix moves on to face #13 ranked Spalding Academy Shamrocks, and due to NSAA seeding formulas, the Coyotes will have to make the four and a half hour trip out to Spalding as the visitors. The Shamrocks beat Sterling by one point in the first round and then beat McCool Junction by seven points in the second round, and come into the semifinal round with a 9-1 record. The game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. MST kickoff on Friday, Nov. 12.