Much of Papillion-La Vista football’s success has involved its defense this season.
The Class A No. 10 Monarchs had posted shutouts in three of their past four contests and entered Friday night’s game at Elkhorn Stadium hoping to stymie another opponent.
Papio’s defense faced the difficult task of slowing down No. 6 Elkhorn North — a team that had scored 184 points over its past four games — and its quarterback, Austin McMurtry, who ranks among the state’s passing leaders.
However, the “hit squad” shined once again, and the Monarchs orchestrated a go-ahead drive in the final minutes to earn a 21-17 win.
“(That was) a roller coaster,” head coach Sean McLaughlin told NebPreps. “We were able to move the ball on them pretty well in the first half and our defense had them locked down. We just didn’t score when the opportunities came a couple times. We did get one in, but in the second half we opened up our offense a lot and made a lot of big plays.”
A roller coaster indeed, as Friday’s game featured multiple turnovers, big plays and momentum swings.
Elkhorn North took a 3-0 lead 45 seconds into the second quarter, but Wyatt Grimes answered with his first of two rushing touchdowns on a fourth-and-goal from the 1.
The Monarchs carried a 7-3 lead into the half and made it 14-3 6:34 into the third, this time via a 10-yard pass from Grimes to Coen Hoevet. Yet that 14-3 lead later became a 17-14 deficit.
However, Grimes led the Monarchs down the field in crunch time and scored with 2:48 left. The sophomore kept the drive alive with a beautiful 50-yard completion to Tyler Pamaran and finished it with an 8-yard run.
“We stuck in there until the end, and our team did what we needed to do to come out here and win,” Grimes said. “It was a great game. They’re a good football team, but we came out on top.”
“We came in as a huge underdog, so we came in with a chip on our shoulder,” added senior DB/RB Jack Jelinek. “Knowing we’re playing with nothing to lose and we had a great week of practice, and we trusted the guys throughout the game. Came out on top and that was huge.”
Papillion-LaVista turned a strong first half, three interceptions and a late go-ahead score into a 21-17 win at Elkhorn North. The Monarchs have won five of their last six and are 6-2 overall. pic.twitter.com/cM2xtomkb8
— nebpreps (@THEnebpreps) October 17, 2026
Jelinek snagged two of Papio’s three interceptions, one to close out the first half and another moments after Grimes’ go-ahead scamper.
The latter gave the Monarchs the ball with 2:39 left, and Elkhorn North ultimately had just one more play on offense.
“Coach (Dale) Walker, our defensive coordinator, he praises effort and 11 hats to the ball, and we just don’t want to let him down,” Jelinek said. “We take pride in (our defense).”
Whether it was the interceptions, a fourth-and-goal stand early in the fourth quarter, or several three-and-outs, that pride was on display throughout the night.
“Our moniker is the hit squad,” McLaughlin said. “We come out and strike people. We don’t hit and tackle, we strike ‘em. And that’s something the kids have really bought into in terms of our culture, and they feed off each other. It’s like a bunch of rabid dogs sometimes.”
With the win, the Monarchs improve to 6-2 and will host Norfolk next Friday. The Monarchs have won five of their past six and feel like they’re hitting their stride at the right time.
“Earlier in the season or even last year, we may have folded, but this year we’ve gained a lot of confidence here in the last three weeks and know we can do some good things,” McLaughlin said. “I’m really happy with what we did.”
