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Russ Pankonin | Johnson Publications
Plainsmen linemen cleared the way for Alex Patrick on this 15-yard touchdown run in last week’s playoff game. In addition to pulling down the game-winning catch, Patrick ran for 199 yards on 29 carries and three touchdowns.  

Russ Pankonin | Johnson Publications 
Domonic Wendell (1) can’t believe what he just saw, nor can the West Holt player, after Alex Patrick (22) pulled down a Hail Mary in the end zone for the 32-27 win.   

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Russ Pankonin | Johnson Publications
Coach Lance Steffen reinforces the power of belief as his players celebrate a storybook finish against West Holt last week.

Hail Mary! Hail Yes!

Plainsmen take down top seed in D1 second round

It will be forever a defining moment in Perkins County Plainsmen football—one that people will talk about for years. 

Just like Husker fans remember Matt Davidson’s miracle catch at Missouri 20 years ago, Plainsmen fans will never forget their version of the miracle catch to defeat West Holt in the second round of playoffs last week.

The Plainsmen had rallied back from a first-half, 14-19 deficit to go up 26-19 with 4:40 left in the game. A two-point conversion that would have made it a two-score game. But instead, the pass fell incomplete in the end zone. 

Then it was the West Holt Huskies’ turn. 

The Huskies,  No. 1 seed in the west bracket of the D1 playoffs, went to the air. They completed passes of 22 and 20 yards, along with a 12-yard scramble by the quarterback. 

Another 29-yard completion gave them a touchdown to pull within one, 26-25, with 2:16 left in the game. 

Rather than kick the extra-point to tie the game, they went for two. They completed another pass for the conversion and a 27-26 lead. 

The Plainsmen moved the ball from their own 15 to the West Holt 25. However, an interception at the Huskie 4-yard line killed the drive with 1:11 left in the game. 

 Deep in their own territory, West Holt ran three quarterback sneaks to kill time and force the Plainsmen to use their final timeouts.  

With 18 seconds left, West Holt punted the ball away from their own end zone, with Domonic Wendell nearly blocking the kick.

Michael Beck fielded the ball at his own 28, weaving his way to the West Holt 35 as precious seconds ticked off the clock. 

He went down with 2.5 seconds left on the clock—time enough for just one play.

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