Waverly runs wild in win over No. 2 Beatrice

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BY RYLY JANE HAMBLETON / Lincoln Journal Star

WAVERLY — Waverly just kept pounding, pounding away, making some of the Vikings’ work this week inconsequential.

Class B eighth-ranked Waverly racked up 494 yards rushing and clipped No. 2 Beatrice’s wings in a 41-14 victory Friday before an estimated 2,100 fans.

“That was beyond our wildest dreams. We were just hoping that we’d be there at the end,” said Waverly coach Mike Johnson. “We’ve been practicing our two-minute offense all week.”

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Waverly's Jerod Henry carries the ball against Beatrice on Friday. He had 109 yards on 18 carries. (William Lauer)

Waverly's Jerod Henry carries the ball against Beatrice on Friday. He had 109 yards on 18 carries. (William Lauer)

After running the ball 59 times and passing it just once, you can excuse linebacker and offensive guard Matt Greve from cracking a smile as Johnson spoke of the hurry-up offensive drill.

“On offense, we came out and we just trucked. The offensive line had a 5-yard push, a 10-yard push,” Greve said. “On defense, that front four was tearing it up. We did a good job on defense shutting them down, three-and-out almost every time.

“We wanted to stop them outside because they’re the fastest team in Class B. I think we did a great job tonight.”

And while the defense prevented Beatrice from getting any momentum, the Waverly offense purred. Quarterback Tyler Evans ran 13 times for 151 yards and four touchdowns. Fullback Tyler Mertens bashed his way to 139 yards on 17 carries, and halfback Jerod Henry joined the 100-yard club with 109 yards on 18 carries.

Each player had a big run. Evans put the Vikings on the board early, keeping the ball around the right end and racing 72 yards on Waverly’s second play of the game.

Mertens broke free for a 62-yard ramble to spark a scoring drive in the second quarter that put Waverly ahead for good. And Henry’s 57-yard romp to open the second half helped the Vikings establish the tone for the final two periods, leading to Evans’ third score.

“We just played Waverly football and worked the clock all game,” Evans said. “We pound it at ’em all the way down the field. We get 4 yards, then 4 yards and then pop a big one.”

After Waverly’s first touchdown, Beatrice’s Justin Coleman answered right away. Coleman reached back to grab the ensuing kickoff in front of the end zone and took off up the middle. He cut to his left and raced 99 yards to score.

That’s when Waverly turned to power football. The Vikings marched 14 plays, twice converting on fourth down, before finally giving the ball back to Beatrice.

The Orangemen moved to the Waverly 11-yard line, sparked by a pair of passes from Phil McClure to Coleman, for 17 and 28 yards. But Mertens pounced on a Beatrice fumble at the 10 and the Vikings were back in business.

This time, Waverly marched 90 yards in 10 plays, capped by a 1-yard blast over the right side by Henry.

After forcing the Orangemen to punt, Waverly picked up where it left off, running the ball 12 times for 80 yards and using nearly five minutes. This time, Evans kept to the right side, then cut back across to his left for a 21-yard score and a 21-7 halftime lead.

“We wanted to keep their explosive offense off the field,” Evans said. “We had to come out the second half and just blow them off the football and I think we did that. The line played just amazing.”

The two quick scores in the third quarter by Evans left Beatrice scrambling. The Orangemen  came up short on fourth down at the Waverly 12 in the third quarter. The Vikings’ offense then ate up another six minutes before giving the ball back. This time, the Orangemen scored on a 4-yard run by Jace Bowhay, but Waverly answered immediately with Nick Maguire’s 64-yard TD burst.

“They manhandled us across the board. It started on offense, it started on defense, it started with coaching,” said Beatrice coach Bob Sexton. “They out-everythinged us. We had no answer for them.”

Reach Ryly Jane Hambleton at 473-7314 or rhambleton@journalstar.com.