The Southeast High School Cyclones came up short against Pine Bluffs on Friday.
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PINE BLUFFS – The Southeast High School Cyclones football team came up short against Pine Bluffs, 35-14, in the final game of the regular season on Friday, October 25.
The No. 2 ranked Pine Bluffs Hornets established a 35-0 lead at halftime. The Cyclones battled back in the second half with a tighter defense shutting out the Hornets while the Southeast offense scored twice, but the Cyclones ultimately could not overcome Pine Bluffs’ early lead.
Compounding the situation, senior quarterback Ayden Desmond was taken out of the game due to injury in the first half.
“We missed some opportunities in the first half,” coach Shawn Burkart said. “Credit to Pine Bluffs – they made some big plays and took the momentum. Losing our quarterback in the second quarter hampered us in what we wanted to do. We struggled to find some offensive rhythm for the rest of the first half and gave up a few big plays on defense that hurt right before halftime, along with a turnover deep in our territory. (Junior) Beaux Shimic came in at quarterback and did a good job for us in the second half and we were able to move the ball better.”
Quarter by quarter
Southeast finished the regular season with a playoff berth as the No. 3 seed in 1A 9-man East, posting a 3-3 conference record and a 5-3 overall record.
Southeast advances to the quarterfinals to play the Punchers in Big Piney on Saturday, November 2. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
The Southeast defense shut down Pine Bluffs on the Hornets’ opening drive, including tackles by junior T.J. Moats, Desmond, senior Alec DeMarce, senior Emmett Coxbill and junior Liam Haas.
Pine Bluffs found its footing on the Hornets’ second and third possessions of the first quarter, scoring two touchdowns to secure a 14-0 lead by the beginning of the second quarter.
Tackles by Moats and senior Carter Blevins forced a turnover on downs on Pine Bluff’s first drive of the second quarter. The Hornets recovered to score three additional touchdowns to pull up, 35-0, at halftime.
The Cyclones offense rallied in the third quarter with 56 yards rushing, led by Blevins with 50 yards. Beaux Shimic also completed a 30-yard pass play to Moats on Southeast’s opening possession in the second half.
The Southeast defense stepped up the pressure in the second half and prevented Pine Bluffs from scoring in the third quarter with tackles by Moats, junior Chase Sauer, senior Kannon Tippetts and senior William Knowlton, along with pass coverage by Knowlton and senior Ayden Shimic.
The Cyclones offense drove the ball into the end zone on its first possession of the fourth quarter when Blevins bulldozed up the middle for a touchdown. Beaux Shimic kicked in an extra point.
Tackles by Sauer and Haas forced Pine Bluffs to punt on the Hornets’ subsequent drive.
Gaining possession, Southeast drove the ball deep into Pine Bluffs territory with carries by Blevins, Knowlton and Moats and a pass to Moats. On the final play, Blevins dove into the end zone for touchdown No. 2. Beaux Shimic made good on another extra point and Southeast whittled Pine Bluffs’ lead down, 35-14.
The Southeast defense hammered away at Pine Bluffs on the Hornets’ subsequent drive with a tackle for no gain by Sauer. Pine Bluffs attempted to pass and Sauer wrapped up the receiver, forcing a fumble.
Southeast tallied 154 yards rushing against Pine Bluffs. Blevins set the pace for the Cyclones’ offense with 129 yards rushing on 36 carries. Desmond posted 17 yards rushing on three carries. Desmond completed one pass and Beaux Shimic four for a total of 67 yards with Moats on the receiving end for five passes and 67 yards.
On defense, Sauer led with 20 points, including 10 tackles, one for loss and one forced fumble. Haas recorded eight tackles, Moats seven with four by both Coxbill and Knowlton. DeMarce and Moats each tallied one tackle for loss with Knowlton breaking up one pass.