YODER – The Southeast High School Cyclones made one final stand of the 2025 fall season against the Pine Bluffs at home on Friday, October 24.
The Cyclones came into the game with considerable odds stacked against them. Pine Bluffs boasted the No. 1 ranking in the 1A 9-man east conference with an undefeated overall record. The Cyclones’ young squad – a starting lineup dominated by freshmen and sophomores and further depleted by injury and illness – went into the game against an experience team with a state title.
Once again, the players representing Southeast on the field maintained the fight until the final seconds of the game with courage and grit. The Cyclones reached the end zone late in the first half and twice in the second to put a sizeable dent in Pine Bluffs’ final lead, 67-21.
“We were short-handed this week with another three starters missing on defense,” coach Shawn Burkart said. “We were also missing our starting quarterback due to illness and played (freshman) Bryce Booth there with only three days practice. He did some good things being thrown into that situation. The kids played hard and we have a lot to look forward to in the future.”
Burkart expressed a deep “thank you” to the seniors on the team for “staying together during a tough season.”
Game highlights/stats
Late in the second quarter, junior Trevor Jolovich acted fast to recover a fumble by Pine Bluffs for Southeast and the Cyclones took possession.
Carries by sophomore Kaiden Hill advanced the ball into Hornets’ territory.
Shimic faked a punt and took the ball to Pine Bluffs’ 34-yard line.
With nine seconds remaining on the clock, freshman quarterback Bryce Booth tossed the ball to Shimic in the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown pass play. Shimic kicked in the extra point.
Southeast opened the second half in possession and reached the end zone in a sustained drive eating up a sizeable portion of the third quarter.
Senior T.J. Moats returned Pine Bluffs’ kickoff to Southeast’s 40-yard line.
Carries by Jolovich, freshman Brayden Baldridge and Booth drove the ball to Pine Bluffs’ two-yard line.
Booth kept the ball on the final play and charged into the end zone. Shimic followed up by kicking the extra point.
A solid Cyclones defense shut down Pine Bluffs on the Hornets’ ensuing possession with tackles by Boyd, freshman Mick Gustman, freshman Jack Hartman, Moats, senior Liam Haas and sophomore Gauge Howe.
Regaining possession early in the fourth quarter, the Cyclones scored a third touchdown on a 64-yard pass play between Booth and Moats. Shimic made good on kicking in his third extra point.
Baldridge led the Southeast offense with 50 yards rushing on 13 carries. Shimic collected 30 yards rushing on two carries, Hill 22 yards on 12 carries, Jolovich 16 yards on two carries and Coxbill 15 yards on seven carries.
Booth completed three passes for 81 yards and two touchdowns.
Haas paced the Cyclones defense with six tackles, including one for loss. Coxbill, Jolovich, Booth and Boyd each tallied three tackles with two by sophomore Gauge Howe.
