Wildcats claw their way to overtime victory in nail-biter over rival Patriots
Late Friday night, fifth-ranked Millard South believed they had a win sealed against sixth-ranked rival Millard West. Tied at 27, a 41-yard field goal by South kicker Joe Folda with six seconds left would win the game. The Patriots were on the brink of beating West for the first time since 2012. The kick was blocked. The Wildcats won 34-27 in overtime.
With 9:29 remaining in the game, Millard South’s Isaiah Harris returned a kickoff for 80 yards, pushing their lead to 27-13. Two touchdowns from Millard West’s Jackson Wright, a ten-yard reception and a three-yard rush, tied the game at 27 apiece with 2:06 remaining. Regulation ended on Folda’s blocked field goal.
Fast-forward to overtime, the same Wildcats that trailed by two scores with less than ten minutes remaining pulled ahead with the help of quarterback Tristan Gomes' three-yard touchdown trek.
“I knew I just had to lower my shoulder and get in there,” Gomes said.
The score would stay 34-27 as the Wildcats forced an emotional fourth down stop on Millard South's overtime attempt.
“We didn’t play very well, but that’s a tribute to [Millard South],” Millard West head coach Kirk Peterson said. “They did a good job, but they just came up short in the end.”
The 3-1 Wildcats will play Omaha Bryan next Friday, September 21. Millard South, also 3-1, will face off against Omaha Northwest that same night.
