Columbus rallied from an 11-point deficit early in the fourth quarter for a 28-21 overtime win against Lincoln East on Thursday, and is now sitting really good to make the state playoffs for the first time in five years.
It was one of the biggest wins of the season for 6-1 Columbus, coming with two games left in the regular season.
East (4-3) lost for the second time in two weeks.
Columbus scored the final 18 points of the game after East led 21-10 early in the fourth quarter.
Columbus got its deficit to 21-18 with eight minutes left in the fourth quarter on a 14-yard TD run by Michael Voichoskie.
East’s offense had gotten a lead by making several big plays, but then stalled late in the game when it had a stretch with an interception and five consecutive incomplete passes.
That allowed Columbus one more chance to tie or win the game, and it did. With 40 seconds left in regulation, Columbus sophomore Alexander Ogle drilled a 29-yard field goal to tie the game at 21.
Columbus got the ball to start overtime, and started with a bang by scoring on the very first play of overtime. Voichoskie ran 10 yards up the middle for the touchdown. Ogle made the extra point for a 28-21 lead.
East’s chance in overtime came down to a 4th and goal from the 5, but quarterback Turner Wilkie was tackled short of the goal line.
East’s offense wasn’t great in the first half, with drives stalling and an interception. But a one-play scoring drive did the trick and had East leading 7-3 at halftime.
With 4 minutes left in the first half, junior Sam Sutko scored on a 39-yard reception from Turner Wilkie.
The play was filled with suspense. As the ball went up, it looked like Columbus would have a chance for an interception. But the ball hit the defender’s hands, and Sutko was able to haul it in the end zone for the score.
Despite running 22 plays in the first half, East led 7-3.
After leading 7-3 at halftime, East scored on just the third play of the second half for a 14-3 lead.
Junior running back Huxton Katt had an 83-yard touchdown run. He broke several tackles to get into the end zone.
The next score for East wasn’t on another long play, but it was a remarkable catch by Sutko that set it up. Sutko went up over the defensive back and came down with the catch to the 2-yard line. Katt scored two plays later for a 20-10 lead.
Reach Brent C. Wagner at bwagner@journalstar.com or 402-473-7435.
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Brent Wagner
Husker volleyball/women’s basketball reporter
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