Lincoln , NE -  On a perfect night, East played 23:39 seconds of solid defensive to hold once ranked  and playoff qualifier Southwest scoreless before the game turned ugly on the Spartans in the second half and the Silverhawks ran away with a 35-7 victory.  Prior to the game rumors had quarterback Ryland Cotton, three year starter for the Silverhawks, out for the season and even possibly basketball and baseball.  After two quarters of play East managed to control Jeff Seybold and Cotton was rusty and insignificant.   

The Spartans received the opening kickoff and marched with confidence down the field for 43 yards in 13 plays and 3 first downs.  Third down and three from the Silverhawk 23 yard line, Jordan Tyrance blew up the middle on a blitz and nailed Drew Zobel for an 8 yard loss on the play.  On fourth down quarterback Bryce Bostwick hit Brandon Ell on the numbers for a sure Spartan touchdown but, the ball fell incomplete.   The drive did however give the Spartans some confidence and momentum for the rest of the half. Devon Nash, returning from a dislocation, sparked the Spartans with 9 tackles including a key tackle of loss on Southwest's first series.   The first quarter consisted of 25 plays including 3 passes and took 15 minutes of actual clock to play a 12 minute quarter.

The second quarter took 20 minutes to play and produced only 26 plays.  At the 8:29 mark of the second quarter Southwest had punted to East and Ell returned the punt to the East 49 yard line. Bostwick, Zobel and Aaron Kilgore moved the ball 23 yards in three plays to the Southwest 28 yard line.   On first down a center snap over Bostwick's head netted a 16 yard loss.  A delay of game and a reverse loss of 8 yards found the Spartans having to punt on 4th and 39.   With 4:54 remaining in the second quarter the tandem of Cotton and Seybold churned up 67 yard on 10 plays and scored with 21 seconds remaining in the half when Cotton threw up a lob pass to Tay Bender in the corner for a 7 yard touchdown.  Bender also kicked the extra point for the Silverhawks and they took a 7-0 halftime lead to the locker room.

Southwest came out of the locker room the second half and was ready for the business.  Seybold dashed 91 yards in three plays including the 59 yard touchdown scamper and put Southwest on top 14-0.  Momentum had swung over to Silverhawks and the Spartans hope was significantly lost and Southwest took their second drive 68 yards in 8 plays to score again on a Seybold 8 yard run over his left tackle.   The third drive for the Silverhawks was stopped by a Justin Hill interception, his fourth of the year.  The end of the third quarter had arrived and the Spartans were behind 21-0.

The first drive of the fourth quarter Southwest marched 76 yards in 6 plays to score and put the Silverhawks on top 28-0. East could not find an answer for Seybold as he finished with 259 yards on the night.   But, the constant pounding of Seybold left Daniel Suiter open on a 27 yard touchdown pass from Cotton.   East managed to drive down the field with 6:09 remaining in the game and score on a Bostwick flip over the top.  Bostwick recorded 63 yards rushing on the drive to finish with 116 yards.  Final score Southwest 35 and East 7.

Southwest and East have become a cross-town rival based upon kids having gone to the same middle school at Lux.  As the game builds between Southwest and East the internet chatter gets louder, elbow and fists start swinging during the game, cheat shots and mouths start running. Coupled with disappointing season and a disappointing second half of a 0-0 game, control began to become lost as temper started to fly and the Spartans started to react to extra curriculum taking place and the ugliest six minutes in Spartan history in sewed.  East was penalized three times for unsportsmanlike conduct and an   ejection.  The unsportsmanlike penalties gave the Silverhawks and short 26 yard field and  Cotton scored from 20 yards to make the final score 35-7.  The entire Spartan season had melted down to a boiling point and actions got out of hand.  But, it always takes two to tango and Southwest was certainly guilty of coaxing the Spartans to their boiling point. But, that is not an excuse and sportsmanship is the responsibility of the athletes.

The Spartans finish the season 2-7 and found themselves playing 7 teams ranked in the top ten and making the playoffs.   Like in life you play with the cards you are dealt and you live and learn and become ready for the next challenge in life.   Good luck to all the seniors on pursing your goals.