Bennington Advances to First Class A Semifinal with 42-14 Win over Elkhorn South

3–5 minutes

By Marisa Dawson, Photos by Jeff Douglas & Marisa Dawson

High school football game at night with players lined up under stadium lights and text reading “26-1 Home Senior Class Wins.”
Photo by Jeff Douglas

The Bennington Badgers punched their ticket to the Class A state semifinals for the first time in program history Friday night, rolling past Elkhorn South 42-14 in a quarterfinal matchup.

The Badgers improved to 10-1 and will face undefeated Omaha Westside on the road next Friday. Westside entered the week at 11-0 after a 35-0 victory over Papillion-LaVista.

Senior quarterback Ty Bouaphakeo directed an efficient offense, completing 20 of 25 passes for 250 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. He also added 63 yards and a score on the ground. Senior running back William Gutz (pictured below) carried the load with 18 rushes for 148 yards and two touchdowns.

High school football player in a blue Badgers uniform runs with the ball as defenders pursue on the field.
Photo by Marisa Dawson

“I think they took advantage of the game plan we put into play,” head coach Kam Lenhart said. “Ty did a phenomenal job finding guys early in the passing game. And I think every time that he’s able to do that, that allows our run game to open up. And you saw that in the second half.”

On Gutz’s performance, Lenhart added: “Phenomenal job. He’s been our workhorse all year. We lean on him to get the job done, and when big moments need to happen, he does it.”

High school football player in blue runs with the ball as opposing players in white and gold attempt to tackle him under stadium lights.
Photo by Jeff Douglas

Bouaphakeo (pictured above) himself credited the balance. “Just the run game with Gutz. We can spread it out empty and then I can attack the field when I want to.”

Receivers Knox Naughton (five catches, 78 yards, one touchdown), Bryce White (three catches, 61 yards, one touchdown) and Parker Douglas (four catches, 28 yards, one touchdown) helped stretch the field. Jake Crawford (pictured below) was perfect on kicking, converting all six extra-point attempts.

American football player in blue uniform running with the ball during a nighttime game
Photo by Marisa Dawson

“Just gotta come back and keep making them,” Crawford said after the game. “It was great. I love always starting on kickoff at the start of the game with the main theme song. And the energy is always high.”

Defensively, the Badgers limited Elkhorn South’s big-play potential. Dominic Driggs led with 15 tackles, while Mason Thiele and Jay Stahlecker each recorded 13. Demarcus Perkins added six tackles and highlighted the unit’s key stops.

“I’d say the fourth down stops because it just shifts the entire momentum for the entire team,” Perkins said of the game’s turning points.

Football player in blue jersey reaching for the ball in the end zone as a defender and referee watch during a night game.
Baylor Uhing leaps up to attempt an interception, Photo by Jeff Douglas.

Lenhart praised the defensive effort against a physical opponent. “I think our defense did exactly what they needed to do. We knew that they had a phenomenal offense. They were big. They were going to lean on their run game. And you saw that in a couple drives where they had success. We did what we needed to do on first down. That was a big play. We couldn’t get it in first and six or first and five. It had to be first and eight… And that’s what I think helped us have that success.”

The win carried extra weight as Bennington’s first Class A semifinal appearance. “It means a lot,” Bouaphakeo said. “This is our first class A semifinal appearance, so it’s just a lot for our team. We’re gonna enjoy it tonight, but tomorrow we’re back ready to work.”

High school football players in blue and white uniforms collide during a tackle under the stadium lights.
From Left to Right: Demarcus Perkins (11), Dominic Driggs (5), Jay Stahlecker (17) work together to make a tackle. Photo by Marisa Dawson.

Perkins (pictured above) echoed the long-term effort: “It means everything because we worked all summer, all year long, just working for this and finally being able to achieve it, it’s awesome.”

Lenhart framed the milestone in broader terms. “I think it just proves to these guys that what we’re doing is the right thing to do. It doesn’t matter what we’re in. Obviously, Class A is phenomenal. That’s a phenomenal team that we just played right there. But how they handle themselves is what matters. What we can control is what matters. And they’re doing a great job.”

Blue-clad football player number 19 runs with the ball as defenders in white pursue him on the field.
Bryce White rushes down the field, Photo by Marisa Dawson.

Looking ahead to Westside, the message from the locker room was consistent. “I think we’re playing our best game of football, so we’re going to lay it all on the line and see what happens,” Lenhart said.

Bouaphakeo added, “They’re going to be a good team, but we’re going to be ready to play.” Crawford kept it simple: “Just gotta come back, be ready to play. Doesn’t matter who we’re playing. Just gotta be ready.”

The Badgers will look to pack the stands and turn them Badger blue for the semifinal trip to Westside on Friday night.

Jeff Douglas:

Crowd of students holding banners reading “Her fight. Our light. Forever a Badger, never forgotten” and “Tell your girlfriends you will be free next Friday.”
Seniors wore yellow in support & remembrance of Ave Ledesma, who would have been a senior this year.
High school football players in blue uniforms lined up on the field at night, with helmets on the sideline and a 25-second play clock behind them.
Cheerleaders in black and white uniforms march across a football field at night.
Blue-uniformed football team gathered on the sideline at night with a coach.
High school football player in white runs with the ball as a blue-uniformed defender dives to tackle him under stadium lights.
High school football player in blue runs with the ball as defenders in white and gold attempt to tackle him.
Football player in blue leaps to catch a pass near the end zone as a defender in white contests the play.
American football player in blue catches the ball while being tackled by an opposing player in white under stadium lights
Two football players compete for a pass during a nighttime game on a lit field.
American football player in blue running with the ball as opposing players pursue him on a lit field
American football player in blue uniform carrying the ball while running past defenders in white uniforms under stadium lights
Three blue-uniformed football players celebrate on a lit field during a nighttime game.
American football player in a blue Rodgers uniform running with the ball on a field at night
High school football players in blue and white uniforms competing on a lit field at night.
Blue-uniformed football player runs with the ball as defenders in white jerseys pursue him under stadium lights.
High school football players in blue and white uniforms clash during a nighttime play on the field.
Football coach claps on the field during a nighttime game as players and staff stand on the sideline.
American football players competing on a lit field at night
High school football player in white uniform tackled by a blue-clad defender on a nighttime field.
Blue-uniformed football players tackle an opposing player during a nighttime game.
High school football game with a white-uniformed ball carrier evading a blue-uniformed defender under stadium lights.
Blue-uniformed football player reaches to catch the ball as two white-uniformed defenders pursue him on the field.
High school football players in blue and white uniforms collide during a nighttime game.
High school football play with a blue-uniformed player tackled as white-uniformed opponents pursue under stadium lights.
American football players in blue and white uniforms compete on a field as spectators watch from the stands.
Enthusiastic hockey fans cheering in the stands during a game
High school football players in blue and white uniforms block each other during a nighttime game.
American football player in blue runs with the ball as defenders in white and gold attempt a tackle.
Football coach and six Badgers players posing on a field at night in blue uniforms with helmets at their feet

Marisa Dawson:

Crowd of bundled-up fans holding signs honoring a fallen Badger with a yellow ribbon.
Blue-uniformed football players run through a banner between cheerleaders onto the field at night.
Blue-clad football players sprinting as a teammate kicks off under stadium lights.
High school football players in blue and white uniforms tackle a ball carrier during a nighttime game.
High school football players tackle a ball carrier on the field during a nighttime game.
High school football quarterback handing off the ball to a teammate during a night game.
High school football player in blue runs with the ball as defenders in white and gold attempt to tackle him.
High school football player in blue runs with the ball as teammates block a defender in white.
Football coach wearing a headset signals toward players on a nighttime field.
American football players in blue uniforms line up against opponents in white uniforms before a play.
Football player in white runs with the ball as a blue-uniformed defender gives chase under stadium lights
High school football players in blue and white uniforms tackle a ball carrier on a lit field.
Football player in blue uniform runs with the ball as a teammate blocks on a lit field.
Blue football player in a Badgers jersey throws the ball as a defender tackles him during a nighttime game.
Football player in blue uniform kneeling as he catches a pass on a lit field at night
Football players competing for a pass during a nighttime game on an illuminated field.
High school football player in blue runs with the ball as a defender in white tackles him under stadium lights.
Blue-uniformed American football players line up for a snap on a field.
Cheerleaders perform a pyramid stunt on a track at night.
Cheerleader in a white and blue uniform performs a high toss above teammates at a nighttime sporting event
Group of young dancers performing on a football field at night
Group of cheerleaders performing a dance routine on a football field at night
Four young women in black athletic outfits walk across a football field during a nighttime event.
Football player in a blue uniform running with the ball on a lit field during a nighttime game
High school football player in white runs with the ball as a blue-uniformed defender tackles him on the field.
Blue-uniformed football players celebrate on the field during a nighttime game in front of cheering spectators.
Football player in a blue uniform and helmet kicking a ball on a nighttime field
American football player in blue runs with the ball as teammates block defenders under stadium lights.
Blue and white football players leap to catch a pass in the end zone during a nighttime game.
American football player in blue uniform running with the ball as a teammate follows on the field
American football players in blue and white uniforms collide during a nighttime game.
Football players in blue and white uniforms gather on the field during a nighttime game.

Discover more from Bennington Buzz

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Trending