North Platte sophomore Dylan Armstrong scored three touchdowns and three 2-point conversions to make up for most of the Panthers’ points in the 32-0 win over Maysville with Winston on Sept. 1.
DEARBORN – It was a career day for sophomore running back Dylan Armstrong who scored 24 of the North Platte football team’s (2-0) 32 points in a shutout victory over Maysville with Winston (0-1) on Sept. 1.
Armstrong was a monster on the running game, having 18 rushes for 86 yards and scoring three touchdowns. He also was successful on all three of his 2-point conversion attempts.
This is the second consecutive year North Platte has shut out Maysville, following a 20-0 triumph in the previous matchup. It was a comparable two halves, with the Panthers going scoreless in the first and third quarters but closing out both halves with 16 points each.
Armstrong ended the scoreless game on a 3rd and goal from the 1-yard line with 7:47 on the second quarter clock. The sophomore bullied his way in for a score, and Chance Garber dove in towards the left pylon for the 2-point conversion.
North Platte had a late first half drive, adding points with under a minute remaining. Armstrong took a direct snap from the 2-yard line and found the end zone two times – one for a touchdown and another for the conversion – to put the Panthers up 16-0.
North Platte failed to put any more points on the board in the third quarter but played stellar defense and continued to make it difficult for Maysville’s offense. Armstrong earned the football equivalent of a hat trick with 2:35 left in the contest, scoring his third touchdown on the night on a 12-yard pitch to the right and rushed in for the 2-point conversion.
Maysville fumbled on its second play into the ensuing drive and North Platte recovered. Senior Liam Servaes returned from an injury and put the game away with a 27-yard run with 2:16 remaining.
The North Platte defense caused havoc on Maysville’s offense for the second season in a row, forcing four turnovers. Chance Garber had an interception and a fumble recovery and led the Panthers with 16 total tackles, three of which were tackles for loss.
Waylon McCracken and Will Hartigan both recovered one fumble. Owen Stockbauer forced two fumbles and Hartigan forced one.
North Platte is playing its best football in years, starting off 2-0 for the first time since 2015. The Panthers are now ranked in the top-3 of Class 1, something that’s even more impressive given they didn’t win a game in 2020 or 2021.
North Platte will be tested in its next game, the start of KCI play against East Buchanan (2-0) on Sept. 8. The Bulldogs are the 2-time defending champions in Class 1 and have won the last five matchups in the series, but the Panthers will look to change history the next time they take the field.