By Jeff Motz
LincolnPrepSports.com



The calm in the Lincoln Southeast offense didn't last very long after a quick start against Millard West Friday afternoon.


The No. 1-ranked and defending Class A state champion Knights recovered in the second half to overcome the No. 4 rated Wildcats 28-21 at Seacrest Field.

What helped Southeast was scoring three times out of five Millard West turnovers.  The first one happened on the opening kickoff when one of the Wildcat returners fumbled the ball and Javier Faalii jumped on top.  Five plays and 13 yards later, Devin Washington strolled into the end zone on a two-yard run for a 7-0 Knight lead.

Millard West's next possession lasted one play, when quarterback Ross Drwal threw an interception to Southeast's Luke Gifford on the first play from scrimmage.  Quarterback Najee Jackson threw a 45-yard touchdown pass to receiver Devonte Madlock on the next play for a quick 13-0 lead with 9:00 left in the opening quarter.

After a pass attempt went incomplete to Matlock that force a punt, Southeast's momentum shifted away from them.  Drwal returned a punt 42-yards to the Southeast one-yard line and eventually scored on a sneak play for Millard West's first points of the game.

A short Southeast punt resulted in the Wildcats driving deep to the one-yard line and Drwal scoring on 4th and goal with time expiring at the end of the second quarter, giving Millard West a 14-13 lead.

Fullback Derek Harris sprinted for a 36-yard run in the third, that set up another two-yard touchdown run from Washington and Southeast regained the lead at 21-14.  
A fumbled punt by Millard West allowed Brady Blazek to recover the ball at the 37-yard line in Wildcat territory and Southeast would later score on a four-yard pass from Jackson to Jordan Ackerman.


Drwal scored again for Millard West, but couldn't regain control of the ball in the final two minutes, as Southeast converted on downs and eventually ran out the clock to the win.


PHOTO: Lincoln Southeast's DJ Foster leads the defense in stopping Millard West quarterback Ross Drwal Friday afternoon at Seacrest Field.