Battered Raiders Shut Out 48-0

Sidney’s already depleted roster took even more hits as they traveled to Ogallala Friday night and were shut out by the 4-and-3 Indians. The Red Raiders were forced to rely on untested freshman and sophomores as the game progressed and more Sidney players left due to injury.

Ogallala started the game with the ball and good field position after returning the kick off to their own 44 yard line. Ogallala marched down the field, overcoming penalties and a fumble, and struck pay dirt with a 19 yard touchdown catch by senior Cameron Bush to take a 7-to-0 lead. On the last series, Sidney speedster Austin Wolfe suffered a head injury, and did not return to action.

Sidney returned the ensuing kickoff to the 30 yard line, then went three and out. After Sidney sophomore Isak Doty punted to the Ogallala 32 yard line, the Indians collected three first downs in a row, and continued driving. Another touchdown pass to Bush, this one for 13 yards, made the score 14-to-0 in Ogallala’s favor, and the rout was on.

Sidney started their next possession on their own 27 yard line, and again went three and out, but on fourth down, Doty recovered a low snap on the punt, and his knee touched the ground, giving the Indians the ball on the Sidney 17 yard line.

Ogallala started and after a few plays, again scored when senior running back Cam Zink broke a tackle and sprinted seven yards for a touchdown. The extra point was no good, but Sidney still trailed 20-to-0. Sidney started their next possession on their own 24 yard line, and went three and out again, but this time the punt was muffed by Bush, and Sidney recovered on the Ogallala 39 yard line. Sidney again could not move the ball, and were pushed back on a third down sack of Doty, and punted on fourth and 22.

Again Bush muffed the ball, and Sidney junior Micah Schneider recovered on the Ogallala 29 yard line. Sidney was able to move the ball down to the Indians’ two yard line, but eventually turned the ball over on downs. Sidney was able to hold back Ogallala and forced a punt, but after Sidney started to drive, Doty threw an interception. During the next series, Sidney lost senior Connor Uhrig to an ankle injury and Ogallala scored again to take a 28-to-0 lead into halftime.

Sidney started the second half on offense, but their fortunes did not change as Doty was intercepted on the second play of the drive. Ogallala responded with a 78 yard touchdown run by Zink, but a missed extra point kept the score at 34-to-0, and did not initiate the running clock. After Sidney went three and out again, Ogallala scored on a 20 yard run by senior Jake Hiltibrand to move the score to 42-to-0 and start the running clock. Ogallala added another six points in the fourth quarter to wrap up the 48-to-0 win and move their record to 5-and-3.

Sidney was led by freshman Connor Hurt’s 16 yards on 8 carries while Ogallala’s Zink had 185 yards on 13 carries. Sidney hosts the 5-and 3 Mitchell Tigers for their last game of the season on Friday.