GRAND ISLAND — Class A No. 9-rated (Lincoln Journal Star) Grand Island Senior High overcame a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit to edge North Platte 28-27 Friday night at Memorial Stadium.
The Islanders (1-0) trailed 27-14 with 11:21 to play before mounting their comeback. Quarterback Bode Albers’ 5-yard TD run cut the Bulldogs’ lead to 27-21 with 6:45 to play.
After getting a defensive stop, Grand Island senior fullback Justyce Hosteter’s 3-yard TD reception from Albers on a fourth-down play tied the score at 27-27 with 2:56 left. Thatcher Panowicz then converted the point-after kick to give the Islanders the lead.
North Platte (0-2) was able to drive to Grand Island’s 45-yard line with 17 seconds left. However, senior linebacker Jacob Albers broke up a fourth-down pass to secure the victory for the Islanders with 11 seconds remaining.
Making his first career start at quarterback, Bode Albers completed 10 of 21 pass attempts for 105 yards with two TDs and an interception. Albers also threw a 29-yard scoring pass to Nelsyn Wheeler in the third quarter before his 3-yard TD pass to Hostetler in the fourth.
Senior Caleb Richardson, who rushed 12 times for 57 yards, gave Grand Island a 7-0 lead with 5:04 left in the first quarter when he returned a punt 65 yards for a TD. Wheeler added 88 yards rushing on 12 carries and caught four passes for 47 yards and a TD for Grand Island.
Xavier Albertson rushed 21 times for 94 yards and two TDs to lead the Bulldogs. Joneson added 90 yards rushing on 18 attempts, Eli Broman carried for 75 yards and Breckin Torrez had 66 yards rushing, including two TDs.
Grand Island hits the road next Friday to face top-rated Omaha Westside. The Warriors are the defending Class A state champions.
Grand Island 28, North Platte 27
North Platte (0-2)
0
14
6
7—27
Grand Island (1-0)
7
0
7
14—28
First Quarter
GI—Caleb Richardson 65 punt return (Thatcher Panowicz kick), 5:04.
Second Quarter
NP—Breckin Torrez 44 run (Luke Borges kick), 9:20.
NP—Torrez 17 run (Borges kick), 2:56.
Third Quarter
GI—Nelsyn Wheeler 29 pass from Bode Albers (Panowicz kick), 7:26.
NP—Xavier Albertson 3 run (kick blocked), 4:51.
Fourth Quarter
NP—Albertson 4 run (Borges kick), 11:21.
GI—B.Albers 5 run (Panowicz kick), 6:45.
GI—Justyce Hostetler 3 pass from B.Albers (Panowicz kick), 2:56.
