Wildcats Fall to Eagles in Class D6 Semifinals
On Friday, November 13, 2026, the Class D6 NSAA State Playoffs continued. Tonight, though, the semifinals. #2 Wallace hosted #3 Garden County. For Garden County, they were looking to make it back to the state championship and defend their 2025 championship. For Wallace, they were looking to make history, as they have never made it to a state championship game in football.
We chatted with Head Coach Logan Paben prior to the game. Interviews brought to you by Acme Printing Company.
In the opening quarter, Garden County had the first possession and drove down to about the 15-yard line. The Wildcats got a fourth-down stop, then took over. They drove to about midfield, and Garden County got another stop. The teams trades possesions, and before we knew it, it was the end of the first quarter, and it was 0-0.
Wallace got on the board first with an 8-yard run from Tyson Sullivan. The two-point conversion attempt failed; it was 6-0, with just over 6:00 to go before halftime.
After a fumble exchange on a fourth-and-one for Wallace, Garden County took over on their own 35-yard line with 1:37 left in the half.
The teams traded a couple more stops on fourth down, but at the half Wallace led 6-0.
Who would’ve thought that, so far in the first half, we were playing six-man football on a phone booth?
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Wallace scored out of the half on a big fourth-down play, a 42-yard run by Tyson Sullivan. The two-point conversion was no good, and it was 12-0 with under 8:00 to go in the third. Not only was it 4th down, but it was also 4th-and-13 when they converted.
The Eagles got on the board with a three-yard touchdown run by Blake Dean. The two-point conversion was good, and it was 12-8 with 1:15 left in the third.
That was the score heading into the fourth quarter.
Garden County scored on a 36-yard touchdown run by Blake Dean with 7:11 left in the game. The extra-point kick was good, and it was 16-12.
Wallace countered with a score of their own as they drove downfield, and a few plays later, Colt Franklin threw a 5-yard shovel pass to Tobin Pelster. The extra point was no good, and it was 18-16 with 4:48 left in the game.
Garden County answered with a touchdown. Blake Dean ran it in from 10 yards out. The extra point was good, and it was 24-18 with 3:34 left.
After a pass-interference call, Wallace had a chance on fourth-and-one to move the chains. The Garden County's defense was tough and stopped it, forcing a turnover on downs.
After a big fourth-down stop, Wallace had a chance to win the game, as they had it around their own 10-yard line with 24 seconds to go. A pass to Micah Garrison got things rolling. But then came a couple of incompletions, and finally an interception to close out the game by Jase Roberson of Garden County.
The final score was 24-18 in favor of Garden County.
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Wallace ends their season with a record of 9-2.
Garden County advances to the NSAA Class D6 State Championship game on Friday, November 20th. They will face #4 Diller-Odell at Cope Stadium on the campus of UNK at 7:10 PM CT.
Check out our highlights from the game, brought to you by Prairie Girl Candle Company.
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