Bobcat senior quarterback Trey Connell looks for an open receiver during the playoff game versus Central Valley. (Courtesy photo) Above: The 2023 South Loup football team had a tremendous season, finishing district play undefeated and ending the year with an impressive 11-1 record. Finishing their Bobcat football careers are seniors Rio Remund, Joey Sallach, Cache Gracey, Dawson Doggett, Trey Connell, Dylan Handley, Pedro Flores, and Lance Wooters. (Photos courtesy Jessica Tickle) Left: AJ Starr (#20) joins in on the tackle of the Sandhills-Thedford ball carrier during the playoff semi-final game. The contest proved to be the Bobcat's only loss of the season as the Knights avenged their earlier in the season loss to South Loup to advance to the state final. Senior Joey Sallach was ready for action as he helped lead his team onto the field for a D2 playoff game earlier this month.

The Bobcats capped off a tremendous football season with only one loss, to the eventual state champion Sandhills/Thedford Knights. Even though they narrowly missed making the trip to Lincoln for the finals, the Bobcats finished the season ranked #2 in D2 and #3 statewide by MaxPreps.

Last week we featured season stats for the seniors on the team; this week we conclude our coverage of the 2023 football season with season stats for the underclassmen. Elijah Cool (Fr): 7 carries for 42 yards; 1 solo takle, 1 assist; 1 fumble recovery Carter Wood (Jr): 2 carries for 27 yards; 1 solo tackle Paxton Bierman (So.): 49 carries for 129 yards; 3 solo tackles, 5 assists; 3 kickoff returns for 49 yards; 1 touchdown, 6 conversions, for 12 total points Dylan Pandorf (So.): 48 carries for 203 yards; 16 solo tackles, 13 assists; 1 fumble recovery; 2 punts for 81 yards; 4 kickoff returns for 10 yards; 5 touchdowns, 4 conversions, for 34 total points Harper Johnson (Jr.): 1 reception for 3 yards; 10 solo tackles, 21 assists; 2 kickoff returns for 8 yards; 4 conversions for 4 total points AJ Starr (Jr.): 48 carries for 435 yards; 3 receptions for 63 yards and 1 touchdown; 20 solo tackles, 66 assists; 2 sacks; 3 fumble recoveries for 7 yards; 7 touchdowns, 14 conversions, for 56 total points Ethan Furne (Jr.): 24 carries for 220 yards; 4 receptions for 34 yards; 29 solo tackles, 34 assists; 4 interceptions for 99 yards; 3 fumble recoveries for 23 yards; 7 kickoff returns for 150 yards, 18 punt returns for 327 yards; 5 touchdowns, 6 conversions, for 36 total points Dawson Mason (Jr.): 2 receptions for 59 yards; 8 solo tackles, 10 assists; 2 kickoff returns Crew Witthuhn (So.): 5 receptions for 121 yards; 24 solo tackles, 66 assists; 3 interceptions for 3 yards, 2 fumble recoveries; 3 touchdowns for 18 total points Conner Paulsen (So.): 94 carries for 919 yards; 2 receptions for 25 yards; 28 solo tackles, 64 assists; 3 interceptions for 8 yards, 2 fumble recoveries; 2 kickoff returns for 4 yards; 14 touchdowns, 12 conversions, for 96 total yards Kyle Bloomer (Jr.): 3 solo tackles, 4 assists; 1 kickoff return for 10 yards Wacey Schultz (Fr.): 2 solo tackles Jamie Tickle (Jr.): 6 solo tackles, 8 assists; 1 sack; 18 kickoffs for 751 yards; Malachi Neth (Fr.): 1 assist Haydn Stretesky (So.): 1 solo tackle, 4 assists; 1 sack Colton Hicks (Jr. ): 1 solo tackle