Waverly football tops Gretna East, wins first Class B title in 45 years

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — The Waverly Vikings football team is bringing home its first Class B title in 45 years, beating Gretna East 42-27 at Memorial Stadium.

Waverly rode its workhorse running back all night long.

Senior Nathan Axmann finished the game with 277 rushing yards on 41 carries and three touchdowns. He also finished with 322 all-purpose yards.

Quarterback Brockston Teply also had a standout performance, completing 8-of-11 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns.

Gavin McMillan led the Vikings’ receiving core with three catches for 44 yards and a touchdown. He also scored a rushing touchdown.

It was a back-and-forth battle for most of the night. After a first-quarter fumble from Axmann, it only took the Griffins two plays to get on the board.

Quarterback Chase Grow found Seth Kraegel for a 30-yard touchdown pass, making the score 7-0 Griffins.

Waverly proceeded to score 28 unanswered points to take a commanding lead in the first half.

Towards the end of the first quarter, the Vikings went on a 12-play, 80-yard drive that was capped off by a 19-yard touchdown pass from Teply to McMillan.

One drive later, McMillan got in the endzone again, this time in the form of a 15-yard rushing touchdown, giving the Vikings a 14-7 lead in the second quarter.

On Waverly’s next possession, Teply only needed one play to find the endzone once again.

This time, he connected with Connor Schere for a 43-yard touchdown pass, making the score 21-7.

Why not one more score in the second quarter for the Vikings?

Axmann capped off a five-play, 53-yard drive with a 19-yard touchdown run to give the Vikings a 28-7 lead towards the end of the first half.

But the Griffins wouldn’t go away just yet.

On the very next drive, Grow found Caden Annis for a 28-yard touchdown pass, cutting the Vikings’ lead to 28-14 at halftime.

It was a stalemate throughout the majority of the third quarter until Gretna East found the endzone again.

Grow once again found Annis for a 28-yard touchdown to make it a one-score game in the fourth quarter.

The Griffins had a chance to cut into Waverly’s lead some more, but a missed field goal from 30 yards out gave the Vikings the ball back.

And the Vikings used that momentum to add to their lead.

Waverly went on a 12-play, 80-yard drive that was capped off by a 3-yard touchdown rush from Axmann, making the score 35-21 Vikings.

The Griffins answered right back, as Grow found Carver Fritchen for a 26-yard touchdown pass, cutting the Vikings’ lead to 35-27 after a missed extra point.

After a failed onside kick, Axmann only needed one play to put the nail in the coffin. He walked it in from 53 yards out to give the Vikings a 42-27 lead.