TILDEN - Everyone thought it would be a close game, but no one thought it would be as wild as it ended up being.

In their third meeting in the last calendar year, Class D1 #8 Plainview erased an early deficit and held off a late rally to beat Elkhorn Valley on the road Friday, 34-26.

The Falcons enjoyed the home cooking early. After stopping the Pirates on a goal-to-go situation early in the first quarter, Elkhorn Valley marched down the field, taking the lead on a touchdown pass from senior Mason Nitz to junior Jarrett Werner.

A second touchdown pass from Nitz to senior tailback Trevis Halsey extended the Falcon lead to 12-0 early in the second quarter.

But Plainview's offense came alive halfway through the second quarter. Senior Jacson King got their scoring started with a 16-yd TD run. The Pirates got the ball back on an interception and quarterback Karter Lingenfelter's two-yard TD run gave Plainview their second score in 19 seconds and their first lead of the game.

A second touchdown run by King extended the Pirates' lead to 20-12 at the break.

Plainview's momentum continued in the second half, as they marched the opening drive with little trouble, capped by a one-yard QB sneak by Lingenfelter.

The Falcons had to change gears offensively, as Halsey missed the second half with an apparent shoulder injury. Coach Brandon Black moved quarterback to Mason Nitz to tailback and wide receiver Jarrett Werner to quarterback. That adjustment seemed to light a fire under Elkhorn Valley, as they ended the Pirates 27-0 with a four-yard touchdown pass from Werner to sophomore Jordan Black.

Trailing nine in the fourth quarter, Werner scored again on a five-yard scramble, bringing Elkhorn Valley within one with 6:20 to go.

But the Falcons would get no closer. After one drive stalled in Plainview territory, the Pirates stayed aggressive, converting a 4th and 18 into a 24-yd touchdown pass from Lingenfelter to sophomore Wyatt Schroth. 

Lingenfelter would close the door on defense, with an interception on the final play of the game - the fourth Elkhorn Valley turnover - and sealing the 34-26 win.

The win avenges Plainview's loss at the hands of Elkhorn Valley in the second round of the Class D1 playoffs last season, the Pirates' only loss in 2023.

GAME SUMMARY

PLAINVIEW (3-1)             -  0 20  7  7 - 34 

ELKHORN VALLEY (2-2) -  6  6  6  8 - 26

1ST QUARTER

4:33 - Mason Nitz (EV) 10-yd TD pass to Jarrett Werner (2-pt conversion no good)

2ND QUARTER

8:29 - Mason Nitz 8-yd TD pass to Trevis Halsey (2-pt conversion no good)

6:54 - Jacson King (PLA) 15-yd TD run (XP good)

6:35 - Karter Lingenfelter (PLA) 2-yd TD run (2-pt conversion no good)

1:28 - Jacson King 16-yd TD run (XP good)

3RD QUARTER

7:27 - Karter Lingenfelter 1-yd TD run (XP good)

1:33 - Jarrett Werner (EV) 5-yd TD pass to Logan Black (2-pt conversion no good)

4TH QUARTER

6:20 - Jarrett Werner 5-yd TD run (2-pt conversion good)

0:41 - Karter Lingenfelter 24-yd TD pass to Wyatt Schroth (XP good)

INDIVIDUAL STATS

PLAINVIEW

RUSHING

 - Jacson King: 20 carries, 75 yds, 2 TD

 - Karter Lingenfelter: 17 carries, 49 yds, 2 TD

 - Colt Kromarek: 1 carry, 1 yd

 - Kohen Lingenfelter: 1 carry, 1 yd

PASSING

 - Karter Lingenfelter: 11-of-17, 172 yds, 1 TD

RECEIVING

 - Wyatt Schroth: 4 rec, 86 yds, 1 TD

 - Kohen Lingenfelter: 4 rec, 33 yds

 - Corben Kment: 2 rec, 31 yds

 - Jacson King: 1 rec, 22 yds

ELKHORN VALLEY

RUSHING

 - Trevis Halsey: 11 carries, 17 yds

 - Mason Nitz: 12 carries, 43 yds

 - Logan Black: 1 carry, 6 yds

 - Jarrett Werner: 9 carries, 33 yds, 1 TD

 - Korbin Werner: 1 carry, -4 yds

PASSING

 - Mason Nitz: 11-of-25, 133 yds, 2 TD, 3 INT

 - Jarrett Werner: 6-of-11, 102 yds, 1 TD

RECEVING

 - Jarrett Werner: 4 rec, 66 yds, 1 TD

 - Logan Black: 5 rec, 41 yds, 1 TD

 - Trevis Halsey: 2 rec, 8 yds, 1 TD

 - Korbin Werner: 4 rec, 76 yds

 - Mason Nitz: 2 rec, 44 yds