The Antlers started the season off strong with a 2-1 start. They lost a rough one to a really good Waverly Vikings, which put the Antlers in their place to start the season. The Antlers took their one loss and handed that one off to the Norris Titans, as the Antlers would win that one in dramatic fashion with a last-second touchdown by Andrew Salvatore. Then, the Antlers came back home for a game against the state runner-ups last year and blew the Cougars out of their place as they also finished 4-6.
“I knew from our first three games going 2-1 we would have a pretty good run, I had the nerves going into that second game against Norris but little did I know I would break a school record,” junior quarterback Kayd Matthews said.
After that 2-1 start, the Antlers were feeling good. They did not follow that one up, as in the next four games they would end up losing. First off, a terrible loss to a good Skutt Skyhawks team, as the Skyhawks took the Antlers down 45-0. Then, this tough game would lead to another loss to the Bennington Badgers. The Antlers knew they needed to fix something against a 5-0 Elkhorn North team, which was a vastly improved team from the one that started 0-5 last year. The Antlers would lose once again. Now, the Antlers were furious going into a game against Blair, continuing the trend of losing in a one-score game, 28-21.
“We all knew that if this is how the rest of our season goes we would be seen as a terrible team. We were not that team,” senior wide receiver Erik Pfahl said.
It was crunch time for the Antlers. They would go on and finish the last two games with wins, knowing playoff hopes were on the line. The Antlers traveled to Mount Michael and win that game. The cold could not stop them from blowing out the Knights 28-6. With the team’s playoff hopes still alive, the Antlers knew a win against Westview would put them in the postseason. The game ended as many expected. The Antlers took down the Wolverines 42-14, setting up a rematch with district rival Elkhorn North.
“I was really hoping this was a game we would get again,” coach Feickert said. “I really hope the boys know the job isn’t finished as we would show Elkhorn North that we really aren’t that bad.”
The Antlers made the playoffs as the 12th seed; they would get to play in “The Battle of Maple Street” which went the Antlers way as the team battled to keep the game close until the last minute of the game. The Antlers would end their season short against the Wolves and fall once again with a score of 31-21.
“I feel like we did alright,” Feickert said. “We had a bunch of new juniors filling starting spots which put us at a disadvantage but other than that we have room to improve next year.”
