Gothenburg holds on to win football rivalry over Cozad
Gothenburg's Braden Ehlers breaks free of a tackle by Cozad's Owen Ross for a 26-yard touchdown run in the second quarter Thursday in Gothenburg.
Cozad's Ethan Atchison scrambles in the back field away from Gothenburg's Andrew Salomon in the first quarter Thursday in Gothenburg.
Gothenburg's Callen Johnson breaks a tackle by Cozad's Ethan Atchison for a first down in the Swedes' 14-7 win Thursday.
Cozad's Ashton Osborn takes the ball from Ethan Atchison for a Haymaker first down in the first half against Gothenburg Thursday evening.
Gothenburg's Maddox Gilligan runs the ball for one-yard in the first quarter Thursday in the Swedes' win over Cozad.
Gothenburg's Dillon Floyd completes a pass Teague Butterfield in the second quarter in the Swedes' home 14-7 win over Cozad.
Cozad's Julien Davis runs the ball in the second quarter of the Haymakers' Thursday loss to Gothenburg.
GOTHENBURG — Nothing like a severe thunderstorm coupled by a tornado siren sounding to kickoff Nebraska high school football Thursday night.
In a long-standing Dawson County rivalry, Gothenburg defended their home turf 14-7 against Cozad after a nearly 3-hour delay.
After a scoreless first quarter, Gothenburg struck first.
Braden Ehlers broke free of a tackle by Cozad's Owen Ross, taking the ball 26 yards to the endzone. Dillon Floyd capped the Swedes' first score with a point-after kick.
During Cozad's possession, the Haymakers setup for third-and-five. Julien Davis snapped the ball, looking for an open teammate. Gothenburg's Callen Johnson stepped in front of the pass, and took the interception 25 yards for the score. Floyd’s point-after put the Swedes up 14.
Cozad marched the ball up field, reaching inside the red zone.
Quarterback Ethan Atchison covered the ball and ran to the nine-yard line to setup third-and-six.
On the next play, Gothenburg's Axtyn Jesspeh intercepted a pass from Atchison to Osiel Ramirez in the endzone.
Cozad held the Swedes to a punt on Gothenburg's ensuing possession.
The Haymakers had possession with under 50 seconds left in the first half.
Maddox Gilligan knocked down a pass from Atchison to Ramirez to end the second quarter, with the Swedes holding a 14-0 lead at halftime.
Cozad went three-and-out and punted to start the second half, and the Swedes only got in a few snaps before the tornado siren sounded and the game was suspended.
The game resumed at 11:27 p.m., and the third quarter remained scoreless with the Swedes leading by two possessions.
Cozad’s lone scoring drive came in the fourth, capped by a 10-yard fourth-and-goal tuchdown pass from Atchison to Brayden Barber.
The Haymakers closed the gap to one possession, and their defense stood tall on Gothenburg's next possession.
Cozad put the Swedes at third and 15 after back-to-back tackles for loss.
Mathew Arndt stepped in front of a Floyd pass for an interception and Cozad took over on their own 31-yard line.
Down the stretch, Cozad went for it on fourth and six. Atchison connected with Arndt down the sideline for a Haymaker first down.
The Swedes forced a fourth and seven on the 14-yard-line late in the game, and an Atchison pass sailed out of the back of the endzone to give Gothenburg the rivalry win.
COZAD STATS
Atchison had 18 completions on 27 attempts for 159 yards and one passing touchdown. He carried the ball 42 yards on 13 carries.
Osborn had 21 caries for 78 yards and one reception.
Arndt had seven catches for 64 yards, Ross had two catches for 35 yards and Barber had five for 41 yards and on touchdown.
Collin McFall had one sack for a six yard loss, Myles Ide and Barber teamed up for a sack and Arndt had one for a one yard loss.
SWEDE STATS
Floyd had two completions on eight attempts for 17 yards and three carries for -11 yards. He scored two PAT kicks.
Johnson ran the ball 91 yards on eight carries and Gilligan had 13 carries for 25 yards.
Ehlers had two carries for 31 yards and one rushing touchdown.
UPCOMING
Cozad hosts Kearney Catholic Friday, Sept. 4 at 7 p.m.
Gothenburg travels to Kearney Friday, Sept. 4 at 7 p.m.
