Glen Snodgrass rattled off their names like they were his sons. Well, in a sense, maybe they are.
“You’ve got to hand it to Jackson Coffin on the kick out blocks,” the York football coach said. “And, the offensive linemen – JJ Vanderheiden, Marvin Lazo, Ian McDougal, Joe Miller, Braden Knight, Grant Suddarth – they were really playing physical football up front.”
Those are the guys his Dukes used last night to control the football against the state’s top-scoring offense – Grand Island Northwest – in a 23-14 win at Viking Field. It has the York High football team at 5-2 heading into a key district game against Seward next week.
They were blocking for their star running back in the first half – Jonah Otte. And, after another injury that is almost being commonplace on the York sideline, for a sophomore the second half. Alex Kowalski led the Dukes in rushing on Friday night with 84 yards on 24 carries; 23 after halftime.
“What a tough kid,” Snodgrass said of Kowalski.
Give the Dukes this — they are fighters. Coming off a trip to the state finals last year, expectations were generally high in August for this bunch. But, the injury bug has hit. “We had three kids in wheelchairs a few weeks ago,” Snodgrass said on Prep Huddle LIVE on Wednesday. Their two losses are by five points.
And, Otte, a star two-way back and linebacker has really never been right all season. The coach told me before the season that Otte is one of the best he’s coached in 16 years. He dinged a shoulder just before halftime again on Friday and didn’t return.
No matter. The Dukes made the winning plays in the second half — blocked a Viking punt, passed it just three times and had a 7-minute, 15-play, 59 yard drive to clinch it — and never gave Northwest any momentum.
When the calendar turned to October, it gave Snodgrass a smile.
“I tell our guys we are built for October and November,” Snodgrass said. “That’s when we want to play our best football and be at the top of our game. I really feel like we are right now.”
Let’s Rewind
Islanders blank Patriots in second half; win 24-21
Gretna, Elkhorn set up B showdown
Scottsbluff holds off Sidney
Seward knocks out Aurora
Central Catholic upsets Stars
Creighton knocks off Howells-Dodge
Timberwolves beat Irish in battle of 8-man champs
Parting shot
We’ll just keep this space reserved for Sutton running back Noah Johnson. In last night’s 34-15 win over Southern Valley, Johnson ran for 332 yards upping his season total to 2,034 yards in just seven games. His biggest test is next week as the Mustangs will face second-ranked Hastings St. Cecilia.
