GOESSEL 50, MACKSVILLE 16

GOESSEL – Macksville quarterback Ryan Kuckelman accounted for 202 yards, but five turnovers cost the Mustangs in a 50-16 loss to Goessel in the 8-Man, Division 1 football playoffs. Kuckelman rushed for 95 yards and a touchdown and passed for 107 yards, but four interceptions and a lost fumble were too much to overcome.

Hector Gomez gained 45 yards and scored on a 25-yard run. Rogelio Ibarra had three catches for 42 yards.

Kuckelman gained 95 yards on 21 carries for the Mustangs (5-5).

“His stats showed, and the films showed, Kuckelman was the strength of the team,” said Goessel coach Garrett Hiebert. “You don’t see quarterbacks who are 6-6, 190 pounds. That’s a team effort to get a guy like that stopped.”

Goessel quarterback Grant Bryant rushed for 118 yards and four touchdowns. Bryant completed a 22-yard touchdown pass to Caiden Duerksen. Jake Wiens rushed for 114 yards and a touchdown. The Bluebirds gained 258 yards rushing.

Goessel scored on its first four possessions, adding a 75-yard Jake Flaming kickoff return for a touchdown. Goessel’s defense gained two second-half takeaways in Bluebird territory. Goessel added two fourth-quarter touchdowns.

Meade (10-0) travels to Goessel (8-2) in the quarterfinals.

Macksville 8 0 8 0—16

Goessel 22 14 0 14—50

G—Grant Bryant 2 run (run fails)—11:13; M—Kuckelman 1 run (Hector Gomez run)—8:12; G—Jake Flaming 75 kickoff return (Wiens run)—8:07; G—Bryant 1 run (Bryant run)—1:19; G—Duerksen 22 pass from Bryant (Bryant run)—8:54; G—Bryant 2 run (run failed)—3:27; M—Hector Gomez 25 run (Gomez run)—8:47; G—Bryant 39 run (pass fails)—11:43; G—Wiens 8 run (Flaming run)—6:30

INDIVIDUAL STATS

RUSHING — M—40-173; Kuckelman 21-95, Gomez 8-45, Jason Cleveland 9-18, Rogelio Ibarra 2-15. G—37-266; Bryant 13-132, Wiens 14-96, Flaming 6-19, Smith 1-21, team 3-(0).

PASSING—M—Kuckelman 8-11-1, 107; R. Ibarra 0-2-2; Gomez 0-2-1; G—Bryant 3-4-0, 35.

RECEIVING — M—R. Ibarra 3-42, Lance Lickiss 3-32, Cleveland 1-22, Alvaro Ibarra 1-11. G—Duerksen 3-35.