For Millard South quarterback Trae Taylor, Friday night’s magic number was seven.
The Nebraska commit tossed four touchdown passes and rushed for three scores as the Class A No. 2 Patriots held off No. 5 Omaha North 49-47 at Buell Stadium.
“Everybody’s going to come up,” Taylor said. “Some days, the defense is going to carry us, and some days the offense is going to carry the defense.”
Over his past three games, Taylor has accounted for 21 touchdowns (15 passing, six rushing).
The Patriots (5-0) trailed 21-20 late in the first half, but Taylor, who had 426 yards of total offense on the night, led a pair of quick scoring drives to send Millard South into halftime with the lead.
Taylor found Aidan Marshall leaking out of the backfield for a 34-yard touchdown pass. Marshall faked a block and then went out into the flat and raced down the sideline after catching the pass. Taylor then ran in for the 2-point conversion to put the Patriots in front 28-21. The Millard South scoring drive covered 89 yards in just over 2 minutes.
The Patriot defense forced a three-and-out from the Vikings (4-1) and the offense needed just three plays to reach the end zone again. Taylor opened the drive with a 21-yard completion to Carter Margheim. Marshall followed with a 10-yard run, and Taylor finished the drive with a 16-yard run up the middle for the score, with him hurdling an Omaha North defender at the goal line.
“I’m never gonna do that again,” Taylor said of the hurdle.
Millard South led 35-21 at halftime, but the Vikings answered with a pair of scoring plays. Dominic Yancy scrambled to his left and found a wide open Re’Aire Washington for at 37-yard touchdown pass to cut the Viking deficit to 35-27.
After North’s Justin Allen recovered a Patriot fumble at the Viking 4-yard line on the next possession, Tierre Porter ran up the middle of the Millard South defense for a 96-yard touchdown run to get the Vikings within two at 35-33 midway through the third quarter. The 2-point conversion try was unsuccessful.
Millard South needed just three plays to answer, with Taylor finding Margheim wide open in the back of the end zone for a 19-yard score.
Michael Valencia had a response for the Vikings, taking a carry 51 yards down the far sideline for a score. A missed extra point left the Patriot lead at 42-39 late in the third quarter.
Mixing runs and passes, the Patriots followed with a touchdown drive that used up more than 5 minutes. Taylor twice converted on fourth down with runs to keep the drive going. He finished the drive with an 11-yard touchdown run up the middle for his third rushing score of the game to push the Millard South lead to 49-39 with 8:50 to play.
Taylor finished with 133 yards on 16 carries.
Porter, who finished with 147 yards of offense, had a 13-yard receiving touchdown to get the Vikings within two at 49-47 after the 2-point conversion.
Millard South burned most of the clock on the next drive, and Taylor had his punt downed at the North 7-yard line. The Vikings drove to midfield, but Cody Sorensen dropped Yancy the game’s final play before he could get off a pass attempt to seal the Patriot win.
“I told my coaches whatever they need me for, I’m going to do,” said Taylor who also appeared on the kickoff hands team and was playing defense on North’s final play in addition to punting twice.
Taylor finished 24 of 30 passing for 294 yards and four touchdowns.
Eight Patriots had at least one catch. Margheim had six catches for 74 yards and a touchdown.
“I feel like our offense really clicked just to start the game,” Margheim said. “It’s a good feeling to get the win and everyone contribute.”
Landon Schneider had five catches for 70 yards. He opened the scoring on a 17-yard reception on a bubble screen on Millard South’s opening drive.
“We’ve been running that play since I was here as a freshman, and I’ve gotten so many reps at it,” the senior said. “I just knew where I needed to be at the same time.”
Yancy completed 12 passes for 257 yards and four touchdowns, and he also had a 62-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.
Valencia ran for 91 yards on 12 carries for the Vikings.
Millard South will next take on Millard West on Friday, while Omaha North hosts Omaha South on Thursday.
