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The Niobrara-Verdigre Cougar football team held their Gatorade scrimmage for the 2023 season this past Friday, August 18^th at Verdigre.  The scrimmage ended with the White team defeating the Black by a score of 30-14. 

The black team received the ball first and scored on their first play with a 40 yard TD run by Cash Wickersham (Brady Koehn PAT run).  White then went three & out on their first possession.  But a fumble recovery by Westin Bauer of the white team set up a short field for Black, and they capitalized with a 4 yard Cody Wickersham TD run (Kash Nielsen PAT pass to Coy Wickersham).  However, black was not to be discouraged.  They answered with a 35 yard Brady Koehn TD run (PAT failed).  That would end the scoring for Black on the night, as the White defense played inspired the rest of the way.  Meanwhile, White added another Cody Wickersham 18 yard TD run (Kash Nielsen PAT pass to Westin Bauer).  And then following a Cody Wickersham interception late in the half, the Kash Nielsen found Cody Wickersham on a 34 yard TD pass as time expired in the first half (PAT failed).

1^st half score… White 22 Black 14.

The 2^nd half saw more physical football and solid defensive play.  The Black offense would mount some nice drives only to later stall out on downs, so credit goes to the White defense for bowing their necks to stop the drive.  The Black defense also played more aggressive football.  White was able to strike paydirt one more time late in the game when Kash Nielsen hit Coy Wickersham for a 2 yard TD pass (Nielsen PAT pass to Wyatt Shabram.)

Final score… White 30 Black 14.

Game stats… 

White:  Wyatt Shabram  3 receptions 21 yds .  1 PAT.

                Cody Wickersham 8 carries 42 yds .  2 receptions 77 yds.  3 TD’s.

                Anthony Smith 1 KO ret 0 yds.

                Coy Wickersham 5 carries 59 yds.  2 receptions 5 yds.  1 TD.  1 PAT.  1 punt 40 yds.  4 KO 33 yd avg.

                Alex Motacek 1 KO ret 3 yds.

                Kash Nielsen 8/10 passing 106 yds (2 TD, 3 PAT).  4 carries -19 yds.  1 KO ret 23 yds.

                Westin Bauer 1 reception 3 yds.  1 PAT.

                Team:  188 total yards / 0 turnovers / 8 first downs / 2 penalties 15 yards.

                Tackles:                                Wyatt Shabram 4                             Alex Motacek 1                                 Reid Teadtke 1

                                                Cody Wickersham 3 (1 int)           Kash Nielsen 2 (1.5 sacks)             Praeson Klug 1

                                                Coy Wickersham 6                           Danny Pease 1                                  Isaac Pavlik 5

                                                Leon Coffman  2                               Landyn Frank 1                                  Edward Drobny 2

                                                Westin Bauer 6 (1.5 sacks, 1 fum rec)

Black:    Kellen Vesely 3 carries 14 yds.

                Brady Koehn 6 carries 56 yds.  1 TD  1 PAT.  3 KO 23.7 yd avg.

                Arlan Lammers 2 carries 13 yds.

                Cash Wickersham 0/4 passing 0 yds 1 int.  10 carries 38 yds.  1 TD.

                Jacob Motacek 2 KO ret 22 yds.

                Allison Sucha 2 KO ret 52 yds.

                Team:  121 total yards / 2 turnovers / 5 first downs / 1 penalty 5 yards.

                Tackles:                  Wade Pritchett 1                              Layten Moody 3                                               Allison Sucha 1

                                                Kellen Vesely 4                                 Cash Wickersham 4                                         Brady Koehn 4 (1 sack, 1 FF)

                                                Arlan Lammers 1                              Jacob Motacek 7 (1 TFL, 2 sacks)                  Jase Kotrous 1

                                                Kaiden Bauer 1