LUSK – Drake Lamp checked one of his personal goals off last Friday night as Pine Bluffs visited Gibson Field at Fullmer Stadium for Senior Night.

The single game record of 315 rushing yards has stood since Jerit DeGering did it against Burlington 10 years ago. Lamp eclipsed that mark early in the third period on a 74-yard sprint to the endzone, moving him closer to Casey Fosher’s 20-year-old school record for career rushing yards.

Lamp scored on his first carry of the game and hit paydirt five more times on his way to 452 yards, obliterating DeGering’s record. Jasper Caldera was stopped on the conversion, but the Tigers led 6-0.

The Hornets were up to the challenge as Andrew Loya responded with his own 3-yard score, yet Caldera blocked the PAT attempt. Lamp helped NCHS retake the lead with a six yard touchdown but was denied on the two point attempt. As the first quarter came to a close, Loya scored again and Marvin Reza gave the Hornets the lead briefly at 14-12.

“They came with a lot of energy early and got up before we realized we were in a game,” said head coach Ryan Nelson.

The visitors fumbled deep in Tiger territory and Lamp busted through for an 84-yard score, before Aiden Applegarth upped it to 20-14 for Lusk. Walker Kupke ended the first half with an interception as the Hornets were marching.

If the third quarter is an indication of what 9 man will be like, big plays will become more frequent. Lamp had touchdown runs of 80 and 74 yards before Dylan Molzahn galloped 38 yards for a touchdown. Caldera scored on two of three attempts and suddenly it was 42-14 for the guys in red.

Pine Bluffs wasn’t ready to fold just yet as Stu Lerwick hit Reza for a 79-yard touchdown, and Reza booted the point after. Lamp answered with a 58-yard burst, but then Lerwick to Loya went for 81 yards and a score. The 40 second scoring flurry from both squads resulted in 29 total points and a Tiger lead of 50-27 with one stanza to play.

NCHS was still moving the ball on the ground when Lusk called a rare pass play. Mason Wells broke open quickly and Kupke hit him on the run for a 28-yard touchdown and Caldera got in for the Tigers 58th point of the game. The Hornets had one more shot as Lerwick and Alex Sloan finished the scoring with a 17-yard touchdown connection. Lerwick’s two-point conversion moved the final to 58-35 as the Tigers improved to 2-0 on the season.

The Tigers hit the road to Moorcroft this week, and Nelson expects them to exploit Lusk’s struggles in pass coverage.

“They’ve got a solid quarterback and run a version of the pistol offense,” added Nelson. “We’ve got a lot to work on still.” Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

The JV had their first game against Southeast Monday evening and after trailing 14-0 at halftime, the Tigers ran out of steam in the 30-0 final score.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

PBHS 14 0 13 6  35

NCHS 12 8 30 8  58

TEAM STATS

PBHS: Passing 10/22, 319 yards. Rushing 34/110. 13 first downs. 8 penalties/70 yards. 1 turnover.

NCHS: Passing 1/1, 28 yards. Rushing 52/661. 16 first downs. 5 penalties/35 yards. 1 turnover.

NCHS PLAYER STATS: Passing – Kupke 1/1, 28 yards, TD. Rushing – Lamp 23/452, 6 TDs; Molzahn 6/109, TD; Caldera 18/100; Kupke 4/ -2; Applegarth 1/ 2. Receiving – Wells 1/28 yards, TD. Defensive points – Caldera 30; Molzahn 20; Dayne Lamp 14; Applegarth 10; Eaton 7; Kupke 6; Jayce Cummins 5; Wells 5; Riley Blackburn 3; Drake Lamp 2; Miles Ashurst 2; Collin Taylor 1.