MILLARD – Kearney could not stop Wildcat running back Nathan Pederson, giving up over 280 yards rushing and falling on the road Friday night 37-14. Click here to the broadcast replay.
Kearney entered the contest rated in the Top 10 by multiple outlets, while Millard West was a pre-season Top 10 pick. Kearney had won both of their home contests on the year, but fell to Omaha Burke in Week 2. The Wildcats, coming off a 2-7 record last season, were off to a slower start in 2021 with a 1-2 showing.
Kearney won the toss but deferred to the second half, allowing Millard West to set the tone early with their run game. Averaging 257 rush yards per game, head coach Kirk Peterson wanted to establish the run early and often. That philosophy paid off in the opening drive, led by senior and All-Metro back Pederson the Wildcats went 80 yards in 8 plays resulting in a 1 yard touchdown plunge from Pederson. The point after attempt was unsuccessful, but Millard West led 6-0 in the first quarter.
Kearney’s offensive woes began early, as the Bearcats had a good kick return set up the offense at the 40 yard line. After moving forward on the first play, followed by a backwards run and an incomplete pass, Kearney was forced to punt on the three-and-out. Millard West started on their own 16 yard line and methodically moved down the field with big runs coming from Pederson converting 5 different first down runs. The 10 play, 84 yard drive was capped off with Pederson’s second touchdown drive of the game. The point after attempt from Enrique Meraz was successful, and Kearney led 13-0 with 3:33 left in the first quarter.
Both teams traded three-and-outs leading to the start of the second quarter. After again going three-and-out for both offenses to start the second period, Kearney moved the ball down the field into field goal territory. A missed opportunity as the field goal hit just shy of the goal posts, keeping Kearney off the scoreboard still trailing by 13.
Millard West could not move the chains on the following possession in part to an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, giving the Bearcats the ball back with 4:38 left in the first half. After a negative run on first down, quarterback Riley Miller found Kaden Miller down the seam. Kaden broke the completion into a foot race, scoring on the 81 yard catch and run. Kearney was back in the game, still trailing 13-7.
Millard West took the next possession down the field on a 11 play scoring drive capped by a 29 yard field goal from Meraz with great clock management as seven seconds remained in the half. Entering halftime, Millard West led 16-7.
The third quarter was not kind to the Bearcat defense. After sending the offense out for a three-and-out, the Bearcats were unable to stop the running game from Pederson, well over 200 yards rushing by the second half. After back-to-back first down runs – including a end-around to sophomore Jackson Williams, the coaches son and quarterback Brody Peterson found Williams for a touchdown reception of 10 yards, giving Millard West a 23-7 lead with 7:59 to play in the third.
The ensuing possession for Kearney’s offense ended in an interception that ricocheted from receiver to defender then into the waiting arms of junior Brady Brau. The interception opened the flood gates, allowing another touchdown toss from Peterson from 14 yards out. Millard West led 30-7.
The following possession put the nail into the Bearcat’s coffin, as a three-and-out resulted in a blocked punt and scoop-and-score from Millard West that gave the Wildcats a 21 point quarter and 24 straight unanswered points as they led 37-7.
Kearney was able to score with backups in the contest on a 23 yard touchdown pass from Treyven Beckamn to sophomore Karter Lee. Millard West ran out the rest of the game clock, ending the contest 37-14.
Millard West evens their record to 2-2 on the year. The Wildcats return to Buell Stadium to take on Creighton Prep next week.
Kearney falls to 2-2 and prepares for Bellevue West coming to Ron and Carol Cope Stadium on Friday. Pregame coverage begins on KGFW at 6:30 p.m.
