The Lincoln Southeast Knights took down the Millard North Mustangs 56-35 in their homecoming game Thursday night at Seacrest Field.
Senior running back Max Buettenback led the charge for the Knights by scoring four times on the ground. He also returned a kick 75 yards for a touchdown that put the Knights up 49-28 with 9:01 left in the 4th quarter.
“That was awesome,” Buettenback said of the return. “They were getting long drives on us. They were pounding the ball on us. It just felt really good to break free on that.”
Southeast had a 35-7 half-time lead after a second-quarter 28-yard interception return for a touchdown by sophomore Pierre Allen Jr.
The Mustangs cut the deficit to 21 after C.T. Thielen scored on the first play of the third quarter, an 81-yard run. The Knights followed that with 5-yard touchdown run by Buettenback to put them up 42-14.
The Mustangs climbed back into the game with two straight scores, first on a 14-yard catch by Pierce Mooberry and a 33-yard scamper by Evan Hansen. It was 42-28.
Millard North’s momentum didn’t last long, as Buettenback took the subsequent kickoff 75 yards for the score that helped the Mustangs regain a 21-point lead early in the fourth quarter.
Buettenback finished with 18 carries for 116 yards and four touchdowns. He had more than 150 yards in total offense. Junior quarterback Owen Baxter completed 6 of 7 passes for 144 yards and a touchdown
Thielen rushed for 190 yards on 19 carries and a touchdown for Millard North. Hansen finished with 87 yards on the ground and passed for a touchdown.
Southeast improves to 3-2 on the season. Their next matchup is against rival Lincoln Southwest Silver Hawks on Friday, Sept. 30.
Millard North drops to 2-3 on the season. They host rival Millard West next Friday, Sept. 30.
