After claiming their first victory in an offensive explosion against Omaha Burke, the Junior Jay defense decided it was their turn to take center stage.
Against 8th-ranked Lincoln Southeast, the Junior Jays shutout their first ranked opponent this decade in a dominant 24-0 victory.
The Prep defense played by far their best and most complete game of the season.
The Knights were limited to 108 yards, well below their average of 396. Southeast running back Cash Buettenback, who amassed 236 rushing yards in his first two games, was restricted to 31 yards on 13 carries. Quarterback Tre Bollen managed only 67 yards on 30 dropbacks and was picked off by Prep safety Preston Woodward.
The Knights were swarmed all night and never advanced past the Prep 40-yard line, highlighting how dominant this defensive showcase was.
The offense made their impact felt as well.
The Prep rushing attack accumulated 238 yards, keeping the Southeast offense off the field for long periods. Running back Jacob Ruby led the way with 106 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. Ruby also added a 37-yard pass to quarterback Tony Coniglio on a trick play.
“Being able to come out here, get this win against a top 10 team, I feel like we’re trying to just prove ourselves out here and just show what we can do,” Ruby said after the game.
However, the offensive performance did warrant some concern. The passing game was at a standstill. Coniglio was held to 30% completion and was only able to rack up 30 passing yards. While Prep held the lead from start to finish, there are questions on how Prep will fare when forced to throw in comeback situations or when the running game just isn’t working.
Nonetheless, this performance displayed how dominant this Creighton Prep team can be, even against ranked opponents.
This week, the 9th-ranked Junior Jays play at Millard West. Though the Wildcats are 0-3, their losses have been to three of the top five teams in Class A. The game promises to be competitive, with the Junior Jays aiming to secure a home playoff game while the Wildcats seek their first win.
THIS WEEK: 7:00 PM on Thursday vs Millard West @ Buell Stadium
