Storm shut down Vikings to win district crown

OMAHA — The Elkhorn South football team scored a gritty 10-0 victory over Omaha North Friday to conclude the regular season. The win sealed a district title for the Storm as well.

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“This was a really big win for us on the road,” Elkhorn South senior Jack Homan stated. “Shutting them out was a big factor and it was a goal we had for the game. It took everyone out there tonight, it took us being physical and putting everything into it. It was a great win and the best one of the season so far.”

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Friday’s game was a physical, hard hitting battle between two top-10 Class A squads. Both teams battled and grinded for four quarters, with offense coming at a premium.

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The key to Elkhorn South’s win was the Storm’s ability to win the trenches. Elkhorn South won the run game 149-56.

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“We have stacked together some really good practices,” Bousquet commented. “We have been practicing really hard and the offensive line opened up big holes for me to run through and we played well in the run game.”

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The Storm offense recorded their lone score on their opening drive of the game. After forcing a turnover on downs at its own 27-yard line, the Elkhorn South offense went 61 yards in 11 plays and settled for a 27-yard field goal by Brody Parks.

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Despite reaching the Omaha North red zone two more times, the Storm came away with nothing after missing a field goal late in the second quarter and throwing an interception to start the third quarter.

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Despite the lack of offense from the navy and gold, the three points were more than enough for the Storm defense. Elkhorn South allowed just 142 yards of total offense and seven first downs in the game.

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“We really did a good job against the pass tonight,” Homan noted. “They tried to rely on the run and everyone was filling their gaps up front and they had nowhere to go.”

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The lone touchdown came at the hands of the defense. Backed up at their own end, Viking quarterback Sebastain Circo was hit from behind by Cooper Perrien. The ball fluttered into the air and into the hands of Dylan Kingston, who went 21 yards for a touchdown. 

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Homan, Perrien and Henry Prochazka each tallied a sack; McCorter Goeser collected a tackle for loss; Kingston had the pick six and Trey Madsen broke up a pass for the Storm defense.

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Bousquet led the Elkhorn South offense with 119 yards rushing. Gavin Shanahan ran for 31 yards; Madden Riggs passed for 64 yards; Madsen contributed a 29-yard reception; Ethan Duda caught two passes for 21 yards and Luke Hoskinson added two receptions for 14 yards.

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Elkhorn South ends the regular season with an 8-1 record and enters the Class A State Tournament as the No. 3 seed. The Storm host Papillion-La Vista South Friday at 8 p.m. to begin their playoff trek.

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“We need to prepare every week and focus on one week at a time,” Bousquet concluded. “We need to continue to get better and work as a team. We need to be one team working toward one goal, which is to win.”