Nebraska 6-Man Spotlight – South Platte v. Creek Valley (PHOTO GALLERY)

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Sykotyk | September 22, 2023

In western Nebraska, two Deuel County teams played a 6-man game of football. The few hundred that had arrived came to cheer on their towns, their schools, and their kids. And it meant just the same as it did anywhere else in the country.

The two small towns of Big Springs and Chappell, just a mere 23 mile drive between them, play six-man foootball. A hybrid game devised to keep these small towns with small schools playing football.

In fact, six-man football was invented in Nebraska.

The host South Platte Blue Knights came in with a 1-2 record, and a full roster. While the Creek Valley Storm were winless, at 0-4, and sporting just 9 active players.

The evening started with Parents Night festivities at the small field behind the school. And then the rains came. Along with the lightning. Forcing a postponement of the opening kickoff for over 90 minutes.

Around 7;30pm, the game finally started.

South Platte got right to work. With Brayden Einspahr scored on a 2-yard run. Oscar Omeles would add the two-point kick. Yes, on a kick.

In six-man, due to the difficulties of kicking with only 4 blockers, a kick is worth 2, while a run or pass is only worth one.

Joshua Estrada (not AJ Estrada) scored next, on a 45 yard run. A missed kick left the score at 14-0 not even halfway through the ten minute first quarter.

Quinten Koenen got on the board next, with a 43 yard run. Where the ensuing PAT kick was blocked.

And Joshua Estrada would tally the final first quarter touchdown with a punt return for a score with 1:04 left in the frame. A one-point pass was incomplete, leaving the score 26-0.

In the second quarter, Colton Babst would catch a pass open in the middle and moonwalk back into the endzone untouched for six. The kick was tipped but still sailed through the uprights for a 34-0 lead.

Bryer Wilson would score the sixth and final touchdown of the first half, with 5:34 left in the second quarter, on a 16 yard run. The kick also sailed through the uprights.

With a 42-0 halftime lead, the running clock commenced for the second half. After a sustained Creek Valley drive ended on a fourth down attempt coming up short, the Blue Knights of South Platte got one final score on the night. A 63 yard run by Bryer Wilson as he picked up an offensive fumble and ran to the right side, eluding defenders, and taking it along the sideline for the touchdown. The pass to Brayden Miller was good. And capped the Blue Knights scoring for the day.

Late in the game, after starting their drive at the 18 yard line, with the best field position of the day, the Storm would score as Michael Prince-Dugan would go 15 yards for a TD down the right side. A run by Mason Timm would be good for the single, and final, point of the game. As South Platte would win, 49-7.

For more, and larger, photos from this game, click HERE.

For photos from previous weeks and seasons, visit http://www.flickr.com/sykotyk/sets/

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