Wolverines sew up playoff spot with 50-44 win

Caleb Urban’s one-yard touchdown with 27 seconds left in the game lifted East Mills to a 50-44 victory over Exira-EHK in a dramatic shootout between two Eight-player, District 10 teams as they battled for their postseason lives Friday in Malvern.
With the win, the Wolverines (5-2) wrapped up the No. 3 seed and the final playoff spot with a final regular season, non-district game at Woodbine upcoming Friday.
“Clinching a playoff spot was huge for our program compared to where we were at last year,” said East Mills coach Trenton Turney. “No matter what, we are going to have a winning record compared to the 2-6 record last year. In the summer preview for football, I knew this team could be a playoff team, and I was glad I was right.”
Matthew Haley opened the scoring for the Wolverines on the defense with a 25-yard fumble return on Exira’s opening drive, but it was the offense, according to East Mills head coach Trenton Turner, that was the difference in the win.
“Caleb Urban was able to run and scramble out of the pocket, Jackson Embree came up with some huge receptions,” he said. “Our offensive line, led by Ryan Sayers and Cooper Hagen, did a tremendous job blocking.”
Urban was 17-of-26 passing for 235 yards and touchdown. He also added 56 yards and three TDs rushing. Embree hauled in seven passes for 119 yards, and Sheldon Vandenberg had seven catches for 84 yards and a TD.
For the game, the Wolverines tallied 338 total yards.
“We possibly can be a balanced team and can go 50/50 on passing and running and be successful,” Turney said. “We never punted the ball, so we always feel good about that.”
Haley had 3.5 tackles, including 1.5 for losses, to go with his TD. Embree led the defense with nine stops and Hagen had 7.5 tackles and a sack.
Exira was led by quarterback Bryce Brabham’s big night. The junior threw for 244 yards and four TDs and ran for 182 yards and a touchdown.