The NSAA state football playoffs continue today with quarterfinals in all classes. Area representatives Anselmo-Merna and Twin Loup are among the eight remaining teams in the Class D3 bracket.
Anselmo-Merna will host Guardian Angels Central Catholic of West Point tonight at Clark Adams Field in Merna. Both teams knocked off higher seeded teams in the opening round last week to advance. Anselmo-Merna defeated Wausa 36-30 highlighted by a defensive goal line stand in the final minutes to help preserve the win. The Coyotes racked up 300+ yards on the ground with Caenyn Priest finishing with 113 yards, Dane Duryea 99 yards, and Tim Myers 98 yards rushing. Anselmo-Merna head coach Troy Gilligan told KCNI/KBBN sports that he was very proud of the way the running game continued to get stronger during the course of the game.
“Yeah, for sure. Our offensive line played a great game. They executed well up front and then our backs I thought they ran really hard. All three of them were right there around that one-hundred-yard mark which is awesome. You’re not just a one-horse pony show at that point, you got three guys that you gotta worry about and that really helps opening the offense up.”
Guardian Angels advanced to the quarterfinals by rolling over #4 seed Pleasanton last week 50-8. GACC is now 8-2 overall with their only losses to Archangels Catholic and Wynot, both of whom are still alive in the D3 playoff race. Tonight’s game will be broadcast on KCNI 96.3 FM/kcni1280.com/Free KCNI Pure Country App. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
FULL INTERVIEW WITH AM HEAD COACH TROY GILLIGAN
Twin Loup will travel to Wolbach tonight to face the Central Valley Cougars. Both teams are
now 9-1 on the season. Twin Loup advanced to the quarterfinals with a 41-28 win over Deshler last week. The Wolves ran for over 300 yards in last week’s win with four different players scoring a rushing touchdown. Twin Loup’s only loss this season came at the hands of Central Valley back on September 25th. Twin Loup head coach Mike Kozeal visited with KCNI/KBBN sports and talked about the opportunity for a rematch with Central Valley.
“You know, as far as Central Valley this year and having a second chance against them this year it’s a tough task. Central Valley, you know, on paper is probably the best team in our class, but we get a chance to put our name on them this season and go after ’em and get ’em. There’s things that we can do that we did well the first time and then we maybe shoot ourselves in the foot and we just can’t shoot ourselves in the foot this time. And so I think the kids are looking forward to seeing what they can do. We’re gonna have to play well to beat ’em, but there’s not very many teams in the state in our class that are good enough to beat Central Valley. We’re one of the few that are. And so we gotta seize that opportunity and play well and hopefully good things will happen.”
Tonight’s game will be broadcast on KBBN 95.3 FM/kbbn.com/Free KBBN Thunderbird App. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
FULL INTERVIEW WITH TWIN LOUP HEAD COACH MIKE KOZEAL
