Huskies outlast late push by Cyclones

The OC Cyclones' attempt to spoil West Holt's homecoming game fell short, as the Huskies held on to claim a 48-36 win.

Instead, it became the Eli Macke and Tyler Larby show, as the two opposing players were involved in each scoring play for their respective teams.

The Sept. 20 contest was a physical battle that saw the Cyclones land in the endzone first.

Eli Macke scrambled 29 yards to put the Cyclones up 6-0. The PAT failed.

West Holt responded when Tyler Larby stepped in from the one-yard line. AJ Olson sent the extra point through the goal posts.

After a stalled OC drive, Larby lobbed at 15-yard pass to Cameron Adkisson for six points. Olson's PAT was good, boosting the Huskies lead to 14-6.

Each team scored once in the second quarter.

Larby tossed the ball to Olson for a 9-yard score. The PAT failed.

OC's Macke narrowed the margin when he returned the ensuing kickoff 73 yards.

The PAT failed.

At the half, West Holt had a 20-12 advantage.

Larby scored first in the third quarter, running it in from the 3-yard line. Olson added the PAT.

Macke responded with a 14-yard touchdown run and scampered past the goal line to pull OC within a single score.

The final eight minutes was a back and forth affair.

Larby ran one yard for the first score, while Olson's PAT gave WH a 34-28 lead.

Macke and company responded when the senior ran 25 yards and added the two-point conversion to bring OC within six points, 34-28.

Larby added another one-yard run, but a failed PAT left lingering questions about what power the Cyclones had remaining.

Macke continued to give OC hope, running 28 yards for a quick six and adding a PAT, to make it a 4-point game, 40-36.

As time clicked off the clock, Larby sealed the game with a 10-yard pass to Jakeem Brown and added the two-point conversion.

Macke carried the ball 31 times, racking up 234 yards.

He caught one pass for 11 and threw one incomplete.

Colton Thiele led the Cyclones' defensive effort with 15 tackles.

Macke and Tyler Bellar ended with a dozen each.

Statistics v. West Holt:

Rushing: Macke: 31/234; Baller: 3/8; Trevor Thomson: 2/2; Houston Marino: 10/53

Receiving: Macke: 1/11; Gage Switzer: 1/22

Offensive fumbles: Macke: 1; Marino: 2

Tackles: Macke: 12; Switzer: 6; Rafe Grebin: 3; Alex Arroyo: 2; Mason Hoke: 5; Bellar: 12; Thiele: 15; Kellen Mlnarik: 2; Anthony Umphress: 6; Marino: 10; Logan Mueller: 7

Sacks: Switzer: 1/4; Umphress: 2/12

Interceptions: Switzer: 1/5; Marino: 1/0

Fumble recoveries: James Kester: 1; Thiele: 1

Blocked punts: Umphress: 1

Blocked field goals: Thiele: 1

Kickoffs: Gaby Gamez: 6/272 yds.

Punts: Gamez: 3/87

Kickoff returns: Macke: 2/86; Bellar: 1/11; Thomson: 1/1; Marino: 2/22

Punt returns: Marino: 1/4.

Larby finished the game with 189 rushing yards and 146 passing yards. On the opposite side of the ball, he collected 5 tackles.