Wildcat Rally Ends Maverick Season, 20-17
Central Washington rallied with a 100-yard kickoff return and a touchdown in the final 2:49 for a 20-17 NCAA Division II playoff victory that ended UNO's season Saturday at Caniglia Field.
The Mavericks, ranked Nos. 1, 2 and 3 by various polls finished the year at 10-1, while 10-2 Central Washington, ranked Nos. 19 and 21, will advance to the Northwest Region final Dec. 1 at Grand Valley State.
It was the third-straight three-point loss at home in the second round of the playoffs for UNO.
The Mavericks scored midway through the first quarter on Nate Wurth's 10-yard run and took a 14-7 lead with 3:19 left in the third quarter on quarterback Zach Miller's three-yard run. That score was set up by outside linebacker Jacob Chandler's 44-yard return of an interception.
UNO drove to the Central Washington 23 with 3:04 left and expanded its lead to 17-7 on Greg Zuerlein's 40-yard field goal.
That set the stage for the Wildcats' rally. Brandon Stout took Zuerlein's kickoff two yards deep in the end zone, found a seam and broke loose down the right sideline, escaping the kicker at midfield before going the distance.
A penalty against the Mavericks on the extra point and the kickoff pinned them at the UNO 13. Wurth rushed for two yards before Miller was intercepted on second down at the UNO 30. Wildcat quarterback Mike Reilly passed nine yards to Johnny Spevak and Johnny Lopez picked up three yards before Reilly threw a strike to Spevak in the end zone. Kicker Garrett Rolsma missed the extra point, keeping UNO within field-goal distance, 20-17, with 1:36 to play.
Miller and wide receiver David Carey teamed for gains of 7 and 14 yards to get to the CWU 32. But Miller was sacked for a loss of four with 50 seconds left, setting up a third-and-eight. Miller's pass across the middle was picked off by Williams, clinching CWU's second playoff win in as many weeks.
Reilly, who was 19-28 for 224 yards, tied the game at 7 in the second quarter when he found Chris Rohrback on a 24-yard play. Spevak caught 8 passes for 95 yards and Jared Bronson 4 for 48 yards to lead the Wildcats. UNO held Central Washington to just 43 rushing yards, with Lopez getting 56 on 15 carries. Reilly, sacked 9 times in the first meeting, was sacked 4 times Saturday for -8 yards.
Miller completed 11 of 22 passes for 108 yards with three interceptions. Wurth led the rushing attack with 87 yards on 17 carries and Brian McNeill added 48 yards on 16 carries. Keith Eloi led the receivers with 3 catches for 40 yards.
The Mavericks, ranked Nos. 1, 2 and 3 by various polls finished the year at 10-1, while 10-2 Central Washington, ranked Nos. 19 and 21, will advance to the Northwest Region final Dec. 1 at Grand Valley State.
It was the third-straight three-point loss at home in the second round of the playoffs for UNO.
The Mavericks scored midway through the first quarter on Nate Wurth's 10-yard run and took a 14-7 lead with 3:19 left in the third quarter on quarterback Zach Miller's three-yard run. That score was set up by outside linebacker Jacob Chandler's 44-yard return of an interception.
UNO drove to the Central Washington 23 with 3:04 left and expanded its lead to 17-7 on Greg Zuerlein's 40-yard field goal.
That set the stage for the Wildcats' rally. Brandon Stout took Zuerlein's kickoff two yards deep in the end zone, found a seam and broke loose down the right sideline, escaping the kicker at midfield before going the distance.
A penalty against the Mavericks on the extra point and the kickoff pinned them at the UNO 13. Wurth rushed for two yards before Miller was intercepted on second down at the UNO 30. Wildcat quarterback Mike Reilly passed nine yards to Johnny Spevak and Johnny Lopez picked up three yards before Reilly threw a strike to Spevak in the end zone. Kicker Garrett Rolsma missed the extra point, keeping UNO within field-goal distance, 20-17, with 1:36 to play.
Miller and wide receiver David Carey teamed for gains of 7 and 14 yards to get to the CWU 32. But Miller was sacked for a loss of four with 50 seconds left, setting up a third-and-eight. Miller's pass across the middle was picked off by Williams, clinching CWU's second playoff win in as many weeks.
Reilly, who was 19-28 for 224 yards, tied the game at 7 in the second quarter when he found Chris Rohrback on a 24-yard play. Spevak caught 8 passes for 95 yards and Jared Bronson 4 for 48 yards to lead the Wildcats. UNO held Central Washington to just 43 rushing yards, with Lopez getting 56 on 15 carries. Reilly, sacked 9 times in the first meeting, was sacked 4 times Saturday for -8 yards.
Miller completed 11 of 22 passes for 108 yards with three interceptions. Wurth led the rushing attack with 87 yards on 17 carries and Brian McNeill added 48 yards on 16 carries. Keith Eloi led the receivers with 3 catches for 40 yards.
