If the Millard South-Elkhorn football series ended with Friday night's game, it was some finish.

The top-ranked Patriots scored four times in the fourth quarter. Quentin Urban scored the last two, in the final 1:41, on a punt return of 74 yards and a blocked field-goal return of 74 yards that ended the game.

The state's No. 1 team (4-0) will keep its rating with a 47-41 homecoming win before an estimated 6,000 at Buell Stadium.

“I tell these kids every day, and they'll be the first ones to tell you, I want us to be the best on special teams in the state,'' Patriots coach Andy Means said, “and they have no better evidence than tonight how important those special teams are.''

Add in Joey Felici's 83-yard kickoff return after the Antlers' first touchdown of the game, and Millard South clearly won the battle of special teams. Otherwise, it truly would be lamenting that its defense gave up 517 yards rushing and 590 yards overall to the No. 5 Antlers (3-1).

“We had a lot of respect for their running backs. We thought Elkhorn would be the only team that would challenge us,'' Urban said. “This is a great win.''

Tyler Harris, a 160-pound defensive back, got the block on the 27-yard field-goal attempt by Nick Jacobsen after Elkhorn had moved from its 20 to the Patriots' 10 with the help of a 35-yard reception by Adam Stark that was ruled a simultaneous catch with the Patriots' receiver.

“Usually I go under, but I told my coach I thought I could get it coming from the outside,'' Harris said. “I got hit in the back of the head. I didn't know where I was.''

Nor did he see Urban pick up the ball on the bounce and set sail for the north end zone.

“I saw somebody coming up behind me and didn't know who it was,'' Urban said. “It was a teammate.''

After the first half ended in a 21-21 tie, Elkhorn scored on three quick possessions. Trevor Roach had a 3-yard touchdown the play after Dane Eccles went 81 yards. Eccles then scored on a 45-yard run and Roach followed with a 22-yarder with 10 seconds left in the third quarter for a 41-21 lead.

Eccles had 234 yards on 13 carries and Roach 133 on 19.

Millard South's rally started with Bronson Marsh throwing 43 yards to tight end Trevor Chandler two plays into the fourth quarter.

The Patriots missed a field goal, but forced the Antlers to punt after one first down.

Marsh, who was 13 of 21 for 191 yards, made it 41-35 with his second TD run of the game.

After Urban's punt return tied the game, Roach crashed in to block Luke Theimer's point-after attempt.

“They're just so explosive that you knew it was a matter of time,'' Antlers coach Mark Wortman said. “I told the kids I don't think this will be the highlight of the season, win or lose, so we have to keep it in perspective.''

Elkhorn is in its last season in Class A before the district's second high school opens and both schools will be in Class B.

Last year, it was Elkhorn that won the regular-season meeting on the final snap of the game.

@Agate 10.9:

Elkhorn (3-1) 714200—41

At Millard South (4-0) 147026—47

Elk.: Eccles 1 run (Jacobsen kick)

MS: Felici 83 kickoff return (Theimer kick)

MS: Urban 4 run (Theimer kick)

Elk.: Poehling 9 run (Jacobsen kick)

MS: Marsh 1 run (Theimer kick)

Elk.: Roach 3 run (Jacobsen kick)

Elk.: Eccles 45 run (Jacobsen kick)

Elk.: Roach 22 run (Failed kick)

MS: Chandler 43 pass from Marsh (Theimer kick)

MS: Marsh 1 run (Theimer kick)

MS: Urban 74 punt return (Theimer kick)

MS: Urban 74 blocked field goal

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING: E, Eccles 13-234, Roach 19-133, Poehling 11-77, Adam Stark 2-38, Scott Stark 6-20. MS, Marsh 6-5, Tré Sacks 15-77, Eddie Collins 5-43, Urban 7-21.

PASSING: E, Poehling 6-14-0 73, Eccles 0-1-0 0. MS, Marsh 13-21-1 191.

RECEIVING: E, Adam Stark 2-38, Vince Aurora 3-21, Matt Raymond 1-14. MS, Shawn Kelly 1-22, Sacks 2-42, Collins 3-29, Chandler 2-62, Urban 2-29, Felici 3-25.

Contact the writer:

444-1041, stu.pospisil@owh.com

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