NORFOLK - It would be nearly impossible to find a more entertaining event than Thursday night's back and forth battle between the Norfolk Panthers and Lincoln Southeast Knights.

Both teams entered the night with a 2-1 record, with the Panthers coming off two-straight wins and the Knights looking for a bounce-back after their loss to Creighton Prep last week.

Norfolk received the ball first and went three and out, which allowed the Knights to drive down the field and punch it into the endzone with a Mason Mehta 11-yard touchdown run. The Panthers Isidro Rosas blocked the extra point, LSE leading 6-0.

On the ensuing drive, Norfolk drove to the LSE 36-yardline. The Panthers went for paydirt on fourth down and 12, as Cole Signor found Drew Streich for a first down. Streich broke a tackle and carried the ball into the endzone to put the Panthers up 7-6.

Just two plays into the LSE drive, Knights quarterback Gavin Sem took off and scored a 56-yard touchdown run. Sem would run it in for the two-point conversion and gave the Knights the 14-7 lead.

Into the second quarter, Norfolk once again made it to the redzone, where Cole Signor lofted a beautiful pass to the corner of the endzone. Kaisen Jones leaped out to make the diving 14-yard grab and tied the game at 14.

After a LSE punt, the Panthers struck again with the third touchdown pass of the night for Cole Signor, finding Cohen Skiff out of the backfield for a 10-yard score.

Trailing by 7 with under five minutes in the first half, the Knights pulled out a fake punt at midfield. The Panthers made the stop and used the good field position to cash in on a touchdown run by Isidro Rosas.

The Rosas score gave Norfolk the 28-14 lead into halftime.

Lincoln Southeast received the kickoff at halftime and found their mojo. A nice 7:30 minute drive allowed the Knights to control possession and finish things off with a Gavin Sem 28-yard touchdown pass to Caden Ward.

Norfolk struggled to be as efficient with the football the following drive, due to an injury to Cole Signor. After the Panthers gave the ball back to the Knights, Gavin Sem led them into the redzone and found Mason Mehta for a toe-tap touchdown in the corner of the endzone. Norfolk's Tanner Wagner blocked the PAT, allowing Norfolk to maintain the 28-27 lead.

The Knights got the ball back with under five minutes in the game and took the lead with a Beckham Rice 11-yard touchdown run. The play was set up earlier in the drive by a 47-yard double reverse pass from Sem to Brecken Bokowski. The Knights were unable to convert the two-point play, holding a 33-28 lead.

On the first play of the next drive, Norfolk pulled into the bag of tricks. Signor re-entered the game at quarterback and handed the ball off to Kaisen Jones on a sweep. Jones planted his feet and found Drew Streich all alone for an 80-yard touchdown.

Norfolk went for two and got the conversion, giving them a 36-33 lead.

Lincoln Southwest moved methodically down the field and carried the ball into the redzone.

With under a minute left in the contest, Gavin Sem looked to the endzone for Caden Ward, but Isidro Rosas undercut the corner route and picked off the football to seal the win for the Panthers.

Cole Signor battled through injury, yet managed to throw for 125 yards and three touchdowns. Drew Streich hauled in 4 passes for 141 yards and a pair of scores, while Kaisen Jones finished with 26 receiving yards and a score, plus the 80-yard touchdown pass. Isidro Rosas led the Panthers in rushing with 52 yards and a score.

The Knights saw an impressive performance by Gavin Sem, who threw for 210 yards and a pair of touchdown's, while also running for 104 yard and another touchdown. Brecken Bokowski led the game in receiving with 74-yards and also added 57 rushing yards on 18 carries.

Norfolk moves to 3-1 on the season and will face a the #6 Papillion-La Vista South Titans next week, while Lincoln Southeast take on the #1 Millard South Patriots.

 

NORFOLK-------7/21/0/8 - 36

LINCOLN SE----14/0/7/12- 33