On Friday the 13th, the Anselmo-Merna Coyotes traveled to the nearby South Loup Bobcats to play in the final game of the regular season for both teams. With both teams already locking in a spot in the playoffs, it was shaping up to be a great final game before the postseason. The captains met just before the game for the coin flip, which resulted in the Bobcats kicking off to the Coyotes to start the game.

The Bobcats' defense came out tough as Joey Sallach recovered a fumble giving South Loup great field possession and a chance to score. The Bobcats wasted no time getting into the endzone. Two runs by Trey Connell, followed by a touchdown run from Connor Paulsen put the Bobcats over the Coyotes 8-0 early.

The Bobcats continued to punish the Coyotes on both sides of the ball leaving the score at the end of the first quarter 28-0 with South Loup on top.

The second quarter, however, would switch the tempo of the game. Along with cold rain and sleet, came little opportunity to score as neither team could find their way to the endzone in the second quarter. The first half would come to a close with the Bobcats still on top of the Coyotes 28-0.

The second half began and the Bobcats would set up a kick return but were held up on their own 3-yard-line being forced to punt the ball back to the Coyotes. A few plays later the Coyotes would punch in their first score of the game after a throw from QB Quinten Myers to a Coyote receiver. The Bobcats would eventually respond with a score of their own making the box score for the third quarter 6-8, with the Bobcats holding on to a 36-6 lead.

The fourth would be all Bobcats as they outscored the Coyotes 20-0, making the final Bobcats 56, Coyotes 6. The Bobcats hold on to their undefeated season, resulting in the Coyotes falling to 4-4 going into playoffs.

Connell led the Bobcats offense with five touchdowns and 240 total yards, and Merna’s Quinten Myers had one touchdown and 128 total yards. The defenses would be led by Jadon Wells of Merna who had seven tackles and AJ Starr of the Bobcats with 16 tackles.