LINCOLN, Neb.—Bronson Marsh ran for 157 yards and a touchdown and set the Nebraska high school career passing record, and Tre Sacks scored three times as Millard South finished a perfect season with a 45-17 victory over Millard West in the Class A final Monday night.
The Patriots (13-0) avenged a loss to Millard West in last year’s final and won their first championship since 1995.
“I made a promise to the team that if there were tears, they were going to be tears of happiness,” Marsh said. “It hurt so much to see the seniors crying after last year’s game.”
Marsh completed 7 of 13 passes for 101 yards in his 37th start, giving the senior an 11-man state-record 6,826 yards in his career. He broke the record of former Nebraska Cornhusker national-championship quarterback Scott Frost, who threw for 6,793 yards for Wood River from 1989-92.
Marsh scored on a 27-yard run and Luke Theimer kicked a 40-yard field goal to put Millard South up 10-3 at half. Sacks’ touchdown runs of 1, 10 and 8 yards in the second half put the game out of reach.
“The third quarter was pivotal. Marsh, I’m glad he’s done,” Millard West coach Kirk Peterson said. “We didn’t do a very good job tackling, and when that happened, we were in trouble. And I knew they wouldn’t take their foot off the gas.”
Zachary Whitham hit 12 of 18 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown for the Wildcats (10-3).
Millard West pulled to 31-17 on Vincenzo Guido’s 14-yard run with 8:17 left, but any hopes of a comeback died on the onside kick that followed. With the Wildcats’ coverage team lined up on the left side of the field, Tyler Harris picked up the bouncing kick and ran the other way into open field for a 51-yard return for a 38-17 lead.
Millard South coach Andy Means said his players stayed true to their seasonlong motto of “Finish the Job,” which they came up with after last year’s loss in the final.
“This group just went out to practice every day, did their job and really did a great job when it came game time. They were always focused, ready to play.”
