In his second year as the head football coach at North Platte, Jared Quigley has led his team to eight wins in nine tries in the regular season to clinch the No. 1 seed in the Class 1 District 3 Tournament.
LATHROP – When the clock struck zero and the scoreboard read 30-15 in North Platte’s favor, the Panthers wrapped up their greatest regular football season of the 21st century on Oct. 20.
Many milestones were reached by North Platte (8-1) in the second year under Jared Quigley, including a second-place finish in the KCI Conference and clinching the No. 1 seed in the Class 1 District 3 Tournament. The Panthers failed to finish above .500 from 2010 to 2021 – which included three winless seasons in that time frame – but have now clinched back-to-back winning seasons.
North Platte’s only loss this season was by single digits against East Buchanan (9-0), the two-time defending Class 1 state champions who is now in Class 2 and the only team higher in the KCI Conference standings. The Panthers went 5-1 in conference play this fall, improving from a 4-3 finish last year – with one less game since Plattsburg moved down to 8-man.
Liam Servaes scored two second half touchdowns in the regular season finale against Lathrop.
Quigley has led his squad to nine victories in conference play in two years, which matches the program’s entire KCI win total from 2015 to 2021. North Platte posted a 1-7 postseason record from 2016 to 2021 and had just as many wins last year in districts with a chance to make a run this fall.
North Platte ended the regular season with six consecutive wins, capped off with a 30-15 triumph over Lathrop. The Panthers have improved from last year, averaging 30 points per game and only allowing 12.9 points per game while being 4-1 at home and 4-0 on the road.
North Platte has shown to be a second half team and that was the case against Lathrop. Following a scoreless first quarter, Colton Kirkham ran into the end zone for six and Chance Garber brought in a pass from Westin Snook for two for the only first half score.
Corbin Britting runs with the ball in the Panthers 30-15 win on Oct. 20.
Leading 8-0 at the break, the Panthers got going in the second half as Kirkham ran in for another touchdown early on. Following a Lathrop touchdown, Liam Servaes rushed in for another Panther score and Dylan Armstrong converted afterwards.
Servaes put the game away with 45 seconds left on another rushing touchdown and Armstrong ran in for two. Lathrop returned the ensuing kickoff and North Platte won, 30-15.
North Platte has found different ways to win – which includes two shutouts, two one-possession games and a last-second, go-ahead drive – throughout this historical season. In 1998, the Panthers won their only district title and state championship in the same year and will look to do that again.
North Platte will have two weeks off before postseason begins as there is a play-in game for the bottom seed to determine the first opponent. The Panthers will host the winner of Wellington-Napoleon (2-7) and Lincoln (2-6) on Nov. 3.