Omaha Burke running back James Burks scored three rushing touchdowns to bring his state-leading total to 17, as the top-ranked Bulldogs pulled out the 35-28 road win over #8 Omaha Westside.
The Workhorse
Burks carried 39 times for 245 yards in the game, and it was his final tote that sealed the deal for Omaha Burke. Facing a third-and-nine with 1:54 to go in the fourth quarter, Burks broke two tackles, planted his hand in the turf to keep himself from going down, and lunged ahead for 11 yards to gain the first down.
Westside had drawn within seven points on the previous possession on an incredible 26-yard snag by wide receiver Caleb Schweigart.
It was Schweigart’s 10th catch of the night and his second touchdown. His first score came on Westside’s first possession, as the Warriors took a 7-0 lead after forcing Burke to punt on the game’s opening series.
Schweigart catches the impossible to make it a one score game. Watch it here https://t.co/JrkGVObIYD pic.twitter.com/Vx4RHsRfoR
— YurView Omaha (@YurViewOM) September 29, 2017
But Burke would answer. A 59-yard catch and run by Darnel Davis put Burke inside the Westside five-yard line. From there, Burks punched in his first rushing touchdown to make it 7-7. Davis finished the night as Burke’s leading receiver, hauling in five passes for 88 yards.
After a Westside punt was downed at the Burke two-yard line, quarterback Tyler Chadwick led the offense back onto the field. Their stay would be short, as Chadwick threw his first interception of the season. Freshman cornerback Avante Dickerson made an impressive diving play to secure the catch and give the ball back to the Warriors.
But Westside would manage only a Jack Bush field goal to make it 10-7 early in the second quarter.
Burke’s offense then took over the game. Chadwick found tight end Chris Hickman between two defenders to make it 14-10 on the next series. Westside muffed the ensuing kickoff, giving the ball right back to Burke. A tired Westside defense was unable to hold up and Burks scored easily from seven yards out to make it 21-10 at the half.
The Westside offense opened the third quarter with a heavy dose of Jaden Kohls. The run-heavy possession seemed to catch the Bulldog defense off guard, after Westside quarterback Dylan Plautz threw 19 passes in the first quarter alone. Kohls piled up 72 yards rushing and 54 yards receiving, but never found the endzone.
Fullback Matt Gurnett finished the drive with a touchdown run and a Plautz two-point conversion run brought the Warriors to within three points.
Leading 21-18 to start the fourth quarter, Burke went to its workhorse running back. Burks ripped off a 59-yard touchdown run, breaking at least five tackles on his way to the endzone.
Another James Burks touchdown! Watch the game live here https://t.co/JrkGVObIYD pic.twitter.com/r5PWVv5KFe
— YurView Omaha (@YurViewOM) September 29, 2017
Down 28-18, Plautz drove the Westside offense into the red zone, only to be picked off at the goal line. Plautz finished with 26 completions on 50 throws, with two touchdowns and an interception.
Bush would add another field goal in the fourth quarter, but Westside could never get closer than seven. A 69-yard kick off return for a touchdown by Jayvonn Vinson following the field goal made it 35-21.
Omaha Burke improves to 6-0 on the season, while Omaha Westside drops to 4-2.
Next on YurView
You can watch James Burks and Omaha Burke on YurView when they visit Bellevue West October 20th.
