Second half push lifts Crofton to fourth straight win

The Warriors scored 28 unanswered over the 2nd and 3rd quarters to come from behind against Hartington-Newcastle

September 16, 2023Updated: September 16, 2023
News Channel NebraskaBy News Channel Nebraska

CROFTON - Up against the ropes in the first half, Class D1 #8 Crofton landed a series of haymakers over the second and third quarters, taking control in a 58-38 win over Hartington-Newcastle on Friday.

The Wildcats - looking for their first win of the season - controlled the game over the first quarter and a half in building a 24-6 lead. 

But the Warriors rattled 28 unanswered over the next 9:48 of gameplay in the second and third quarters, with running backs Jace Panning and a slightly hobbled Wyatt Tramp both eclipsing 100 yards on the ground.

Crofton's offensive line was the key, with the Warriors averaging over seven yards per carry as a team on offense.

Crofton is 4-0 for the first time since 2012, while Hartington-Newcastle slips to 0-4, but against a schedule of opponents with a combined 15-1 record.

GAME SUMMARY

HARTINGTON-NEWCASTLE - 16  8  6  8 - 38

CROFTON                              -  6 16 18 14 - 58

1ST QUARTER

8:33 - Riley Sudbeck (H-N) 30-yd TD pass to Dayton Sudbeck (2-pt conversion good)

4:40 - Will Steffen (CRO) 1-yd TD run (2-pt conversion no good)

2:28 - Riley Sudbeck (H-N) 2-yd TD run (2-pt conversion good)

2ND QUARTER

8:04 - Riley Sudbeck (H-N) 1-yd TD run (2-pt conversion good)

5:20 - Jace Panning (CRO) 15-yd TD run (2-pt conversion good)

1:48 - Will Steffen (CRO) 16-yd TD run (2-pt conversion good)

3RD QUARTER

8:33 - Jace Panning (CRO) 2-yd TD run (2-pt conversion no good)

7:32 - Will Steffen (CRO) 43-yd TD pass to Jace Panning (2-pt conversion no good)

3:15 - Riley Sudbeck (H-N) 20-yd TD pass to Cole Heimes (2-pt conversion no good)

2:01 - Wyatt Tramp (CRO) 7-yd TD run (2-pt conversion good)

4TH QUARTER

8:15 - Wyatt Tramp (CRO) 15-yd TD run (2-pt conversion good)

4:13 - Wyatt Tramp (CRO) 3-yd TD run (2-pt conversion good)

0:42 - Austin Sudbeck (H-N) 1-yd TD run (2-pt conversion good)

STATS

CROFTON

RUSHING

Jace Panning: 25 carries, 198 yds, 2 TD

Wyatt Tramp: 17 carries, 115 yds, 3 TD

Will Steffen: 5 carries, 16 yds, 2 TD

Tyson Jackson: 1 carry, 14 yds

Seth Pinkelman: 2 carries, 1 yd

Cole Miller: 1 carry, 0 yds

PASSING

Will Steffen: 2-of-3, 47 yds, 1 TD

RECEIVING

Jace Panning: 1 rec, 43 yds, 1 TD

Seth Pinkelman: 1 rec, 4 yds

HARTINGTON-NEWCASTLE

RUSHING

Riley Sudbeck: 29 carries, 89 yds, 2 TD

Will Feilmeier: 6 carries, 21 yds

Cole Heimes: 5 carries, 20 yds

Austin Sudbeck: 4 carries, 17 yds, 1 TD

Jason Heimes: 1 carry, 0 yds

Ty Opfer: 1 carry, -2 yds

PASSING

Riley Sudbeck: 11-of-23, 163 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT

Austin Sudbeck: 1-of-1, 1 yd

RECEIVING

Dayton Sudbeck: 5 rec, 113 yds, 1 TD

Cole Heimes: 2 rec, 30 yds, 1 TD

Will Feilmeier: 2 rec, 11 yds

Kale Korth: 2 rec, 9 yds

Jason Heimes: 1 rec, 1 yd

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