The game did not disappoint any of the 2,178 fans, as it was touted to be one of the best first round matchups in the Class A football playoffs. The game was billed as a defensive battle and in the first half both defenses smacked each other around for 24 minutes and forced a 0-0 halftime score.

The Spartans up front with Tyler Ohlman, Michael Yardley, Michael Lau, Vinny Luccino, Graham Thurber, Josh Aldridge and linebackers Brice Tyrell, Sam Meginnis, Nate Tucker, Michael Knott, Chris Connor and corners Matt Makovicka, Zach Smith and safetys Justin Burns and Tyson Clark played this game with huge hearts and fought to the bitter end. The locker room was full of tears and sorrow as these warriers ended their high school careers on Seacrest field. Every ounce of energy went into this season and game and they were drained at the end. It's too bad that someone had to lose this game because very little separates the No. 8 Blue Jays, who won their 56th playoff game, and the Spartans.

The second half started off big for the Spartans on the opening kickoff when they stripped the returner of the ball and Nate Tucker recovered inside the Blue Jay 20. An East miscue on breaking the huddle with 12 players cost the Spartans a very key 5 yards and they had to settle for a 33 yard field goal from Justin Burns to give the Spartans a 3-0 lead.

The Junior Jays were able to get on the score board and gain the lead 7-3 with 5:43 to go in the third quarter with an 8-yard touchdown pass from Brad Heldt to Andrew Fisher. The lead was short-lived for the Junior Jays when the Spartans drove down the field and Matt Palm hooked up again with Tyson Clark, who caught seven passes and 87 yards, for a 4 yard wide open sideline to give East a 10-7 lead back with :43 to go in the third quarter.

Justin Burns intercepted his second Alex Hook pass of the game minutes later to break the school record with 7 interceptions in a season and give the Spartans the ball back with the lead on the Spartan 23 yard line. Burns had previously had been tied for the school record with 5 interceptions last year and 5 interceptions this year with 3 other East Spartan players. His career total of 12 also is a career East record.

A Spartan punt to the Junior Jays 42 set up the winning drive for Creighton Prep. It appeared for the slightest moment that East had trapped Hook for a loss and the Junior Jays would have to settle for a game tying field goal but, on a very athletic play Hook alluded many tackles on his way to a 19 yard score to give Creighton Prep the lead and the game 14-10.

Any fourth quarter hopes by the Spartans were dashed with interceptions by Conor McDermott and Kevin Ducey. East kept the Spartan chances alive with two forced punts but the Spartan magic did not happen on this night.

A couple points of interest prevailed at the game. The cost of the game was $7.00 for adults and $5.00 for students which is a $2.00 increase from the regular season. The regular season will at least provide some atmosphere and excitement. I was told the schools were only allowed 30 band tickets to the game. That may be okay for most Class B and below schools but, in Class A the bands are much bigger than that. So, rather juice up a crowd with music and a half-time show we all had to sit on our hands. The bands are allowed in most bowl games so I don't understand this thinking.

The second year in a row the officials were not of high standard for a Class A playoff game. The game time could have been reduced by 20 minutes if the officials had spotted the ball correctly and not required a measurement for both sides. Interesting that East, as good a defense as they are, and Creighton Prep a dominating running team, was able to run all night without glaring HOLDING calls. The fourth quarter drive with 5:00 minutes remaining was halted when Tyson Clark was clearly pushed prior to the pass on the East sidelines. The final 2:00 drive was halted by what appeared on film to be a trap after the ball hit the turf. That's not to conclude that Creighton Prep did not deserve to win. But, looking into the eyes of the teary eyed Spartans neither team deserved to lose expecially with low quality officiating.

The great season is over for Lincoln East. Creighton Prep should go on and be a force in the playoffs. East can only sit back and hope this media comes to their senses and recognizes that they were a very good ball club.

Seven top seeds have won their first round and the ninth seed has defeated the Spartans. That leaves two spots for Omaha Westside, Omaha North and Lincoln East in the top ten. It's a no brainer to the avid football fan that East is 8-2, Omaha North and Omaha Westside are 7-3. Westside beat one 45 rated team in North Platte and Omaha North beat one 45 rated team in Southwest. East beat both of those teams and won four 45 rated games. Omaha Westside lost to Creighton Prep by 5 and East lost by 3. Omaha North lost to Grand Island by 3 at home and East lost to Grand Island by 3 on the road early in the season. East is a much better team today. Sorry Stu Popsicle, East should win 9th position over your Omaha teams.

Millard North would have to be my favorite with the Junior Jays closely behind. A Junior Jay victory over Millard West and a Grand Island upset over Omaha Central should increase the Lincoln East stock . Omaha Central would have three losses with a major loss to Papillion-South and a turnover win against Lincoln Northeast, who dominated the game.

A Millard South loss would drop them to four losses including Bellevue West and Millard West. Your comparison would be Creighton Prep vs. Millard West.

Bellevue West loss to Millard North would leave them with three losses including a loss to Omaha Central and a loss to Millard West. Creighton Prep again can raise the Spartan stock. Omaha no longer has the excuse of a weak schedule by Lincoln East and no Omaha comparisons. It boils down to wins and losses now.

A sound win by Creighton Prep over Millard West should result in good results for Lincoln East. A Millard West loss would leave three losses for Millard West. A re-match with Grand Island would be nice but, we concede that Grand Island should get the nod over the Spartans because of the head-to-head. For argument sake Millard North could return to the top and Creighton Prep lose in a shoot out with Millard North. The great season by the Spartans should be rewarded with a least a 9th ranking if not a 5th or 6th place ranking.

Great season Spartans and congratulations seniors. You will be very successful in life.