On 4th and goal from the two-yard line, the Creighton Prep defense made its stand and preserved a 22-16 win over Millard North.
The final Millard North drive, which started at its own six-yard line and chewed up 9:15 on the game clock, was marred by penalties. It looked like Mustang quarterback Cade Elwood had snuck in from a yard away to give Millard North the lead, but the play was blown dead for the fourth false start of the possession.
After backing up five yards, the Millard North offense was unable to convert and saw their record fall to 1-3 on the season. The win moved Creighton Prep to 3-1.
The game looked to be close from the outset, with each team scoring on their only possession in the first quarter.
Sophomore Reid Burke started at quarterback for the Junior Jays and got things going with a short touchdown pass to his fullback, Luke Sims. It was answered by a vintage Millard North drive of 78 yards that took a majority of the quarter. It was finished by an Elwood touchdown run, his 8th score in two games.
After exchanging punts, Burke hit junior running back Jackson Bartling, starting for the injured Elisha Burts, for his second touchdown pass of the half. Bartling filled in admirably, running for 103 yards on 12 carries, to go along with the 17-yard touchdown catch.
Burke finished with seven completions on 11 attempts for 72 yards.
His lone interception came on the next Creighton Prep possession, as the Junior Jays were driving. Millard North defensive back Spencer Weber stepped in front of a pass at the goal line, and after a long return, set the offense up with good field position.
Millard North looked to be in business following the takeaway, but fullback Noah Mick fumbled at the end of a long run to give the ball back to Prep inside the five-yard line. It was a low spot in an otherwise stellar night for the senior, who finished with 149 yards on 26 carries.
What looked to be a break for the Prep defense turned into a disaster for the offense. Burke mishandled the pistol snap and went down in his own endzone for a safety. With Prep leading 14-9 following the safety, Millard North took the free kick looking to gain the lead heading into half.
Elwood, on his second and final pass attempt of the game, would throw an interception, keeping the score at 14-9.
After the break, Millard North’s ground attack, on its way to 338 yards on 57 rushes, marched 74 yards for a score. Elwood’s 9th touchdown in two games, a one-yard sneak, gave the Mustangs a 16-14 lead.
But the Junior Jay offense answered with a scoring drive of its own. An 83-yard scramble by Burke put Prep at the one-yard line. Sims punctuated the drive with a touchdown run and a two-point conversion to put Creighton Prep back on top for good.
