Freshman quarterback Wyatt Pollet runs through this big hole in the first quarter of Sutton’s first-round playoff loss to North Platte St. Pats. Blocking on the play for the Mustangs is Gabe Gwennap (6), as several Sutton players watch the play develop. Pollet threw the ball for 168 yards, and ran for another 65 in the season-ending 65-28 loss.
With the Sutton Mustangs claiming a 60-20 win over the Superior Wildcats in the final game of the 2023 regular season, Oct. 12, the 40 point win earned Sutton a berth in the Class D-1 state playoffs, but the postseason berth qualified the 3-5 Mustangs as the 16th seed in the west bracket, sending them on the road to the top-seeded home site of the 8-0 North Platte St. Patrick’s Irish.
The Thursday, Oct. 19 game, would be a big task for the Mustangs, as the Irish had steamrolled their way through the regular season, with only one game on their schedule, a 36-32 come-from-behind win over the Hi-Line Bulls being it’s closest win. Outside of the Hi-Line game, St. Pats had won by an average of 50 points.
By night’s end in North Platte, the Mustangs, scoring 12 points in the first quarter, and 14 more in the fourth quarter fell to the Irish, by 37 points, 65-28.
St. Pats did all of their scoring in the first half, racking up 42 first quarter points, and another 23 points in the second period to claim a 65-12 halftime lead.
Freshman quarterback Wyatt Pollet was involved with both first quarter scores for the Mustangs, running the first score in from 16 yards out, while connecting with Harrison Herndon for the second score, covering 54-yards on the pass. Conversion attempts by Sutton, following both scores, failed for the Mustangs.
In the second half, the two teams held each other scoreless in the third period, before Sutton held a 14-0 scoring edge in the fourth.
Pollet scored first in the final 12 minutes from 25-yards out, while Herndon scored from 15-yards out to help Sutton reach their 28 point total in the loss.
BYTHE NUMBERS
Pollet finished the game with 168 passing yards, and 65 rushing yards to lead Sutton in total offense, with 233 yards.
Pollet’s favorite target through the air was junior Gabe Gwennap, as Gwennap hauled in eight catches, covering 98 yards. Herndon had three grabs for 69 yards, while Pollet made one catch from Herndon, covering 10 yards. Sophomore Keith Kliewer made one catch for one yard.
Mustangs were in on two tackles, including seniors Owen Schelkopf and Devon Griess, as well as junior Gwennap, and freshman, Connor Hinrichs.
On the ground, junior Weston Ohrt led the charge with 75 yards on 15 carries, followed by Pollet’s 65 rushing yards. Herndon wrapped up the game with 32 yards on three carries, while Kliewer gained six yards on two carries.
Sutton’s tackle chart was led by Ohrt with 10, junior Aidan Jones made eight stops, while Herndon and Kliewer were both in on five stops. Senior Trevin Buescher made three tackles, while four Score by Quarters
Sutton.............................................................. 12 0 0 14 -28 North Platte St. Patrick.................................... 42 23 0 0 -65 Sutton NPSP Rush Att-Yds................................................37-178 - Pass Comp-Att-Yds...................................13-29-178 - Total Offense................................................. 356 - -
ANDI LANDENBERGER | CLAY COUNTY NEWS
