Wynot survives playoff challenge from Twin Loup

WYNOT — The Wynot Blue Devils and the Twin Loup Wolves locked up in a tight battle Friday in the second round of the state playoffs.

The two teams traded leads throughout the game until the final minutes, when the Blue Devil defense held the Wolves in check as Wynot advanced to the next round with the 34-28 win.

The Blue Devil offense moved the ball up and down the field all night but turnovers near the endzone caused them several potential scoring opportunities. Wynot held a 445 yards to 297 yards advantage in total yardage from scrimmage for the game.

Wynot was lead on offense by Dylan Heine who was 23 for 40, for 317 yards passing. Colin Wieseler had a pair of rushing touchdowns and Zack Foxhoven caught a pair of touchdown passes.

Twin Loup’s offense was paced by Quincy Ryker who rushed for 110 yards on 27 carries and a touchdown.Rusty Oxford and Slate Micheel each had a rushing touchdown for the Wolves as well.

On defense, the Blue Devils were lead by their linebacker corp. Zack Foxhoven and Colin Wieseler each had 14 tackles and Carson Wieseler recorded 13 stops and a pair of interceptions for the game.

The Wolves defense got a solid game from Quincy Ryder with seven tackles, two interceptions and a fumble recovery.

Cael Richardson had six tackles and an interception as well.

Wynot would receive the opening kickoff and quickly move the ball downfield. Aided by a 26-yard catch and run by Colin Wieseler and a 12-yarder for another first down by Joseph Sudbeck, the Blue Devils moved into scoring position. Dylan Heine would hit Zack Foxhoven on a 21-yard strike,as the Blue Devils earned the early lead. The PAT was no good and the score stood at 0-6, Wynot on top.

Twin Loup would answer on their first offense set. A 37yard run over the left side by Slate Micheel put the Wolves in the Wynot red zone. Rusty Oxford dove in from the two yard line for the score. Oxford hit Cael Richardson for the conversion as Twin Loup took an 8-6 lead.

Wynot continued to have success moving the ball but their final drive of the first frame was stopped by a Rusty Oxford interception on the one yard line.

Twin Loup showcased their big play capabilities when Slate Micheel broke a 39-yard touchdown run for the Wolves. Quincy Ryder added the Conversion run to give the Wolves a 16-6 lead. The Blue Devils continued to have big plays themselves. A 46-yard reception from Dylan Heine to Carson Wieseler put Wynot deep in Twin Loup territory but an interception by Rusty Oxford stopped the drive.

Twin Loup gave the ball right back on a Carson Wieseler interception for the Blue Devils at the 17 yard line. A 10-yard Foxhoven run moved the ball to the two yard line.Colin Wieseler dove in out of the Wildcat formation.Heine hit Chase Schroeder for the Conversion as Wynot cut the Wolves’ lead to 16-14.

The Wolves gave up the ball later in the half on a fumble that Chase Schroeder recovered for Wynot. Dylan Heine then hooked up with Zack Foxhoven on a 25-yard touchdown pass. The PAT was no good as the half ended with Wynot hanging on to a 16-20 lead.

Wynot tried a squib kick to open the second half but the Wolves’ Cazen Smith recovered it on the 37 yard line.Behind the hard running of Slate Micheel, Twin Loup moved the ball up the field. The Wolves would finish the drive on a 22-yard touchdown pass from Rusty Oxford to Cael Richardson. The Conversion run was stopped as Twin Loup had regained the 22-20 lead.

Wynot answered with a scoring drive of their own.The score was set up by a 37- yard catch and run by Joseph Sudbeck. Colin Wieseler bulled in from the three yard line to cap the drive. The PAT was no good as the Blue Devils had surged ahead 2-26 at the end of three periods of play.

After a pair of 3 and outs by each team,Wynot appeared to be driving for another score. It was not to be, as Garrett Keith would pick off a Heine pass and return it 71 yards for Wolves touchdown. The Conversion pass was no good but Twin Loup had taken back the lead 28-26.

At the 8:00 minute mark of the fourth quarter, Wynot put together another drive. Fueled by a nice punt return to 37 yard line. Zack Foxhoven picked up one first down on a 20-yard catch and another on a 12-yard run.Dylan Heine capped off the drive on a 5-yard run up the middle. Heine hit Chase Schroeder over the middle for the Conversion to give Wynot the 28-34 advantage.

For the final seven minutes of the game, the Blue Devil defense took control as they stopped the Wolves offense twice on fourth down tries, enabling Wynot to advance to the next round where they will host Bloomfield.

Twin Loup 8 8 6 6 — 28 Wynot 6 14 6 8 — 34 Wynot Twin Loup rushing 30-128 46-165 passing 23-40-317 9-14-132 Total yds 445 297 PASSING Wynot - Dylan Heine 23-40-317; Twin Loup - Rusty Oxford 9-14-132.

RUSHING Zack Foxhoven, 7-42; Dylan Heine, 13-41; Colin Wieseler, 8-37. Twin Loup - Quincy Ryker, 27-110; Slate Micheel, 13-39; Garrett Keith 3-37.

RECEIVING Wynot - Zack Foxhoven, 5-96; Joseph Sudbeck, 6-77; Carson Wieseler, 7-65. Twin Loup - Keaton Dowse, 1-32; Cael Richardson, 1-22; Waylon McBride, 1-9.

TACKLES Wynot - Colin Wieseler, 14; Zack Foxhoven 14; Twin River - Carson Wieseler, 12; Kason Koch, 10; Chase Schroeder, 6; Rusty Oxford, 9; Stetson Bortof, 7; Quincy Ryker, 7; Cael Richardson, 6; Garrett Keith, 6.