Zane Flores Does All He Can, But Kicker Steals the Show in 43-41 State Title Loss
(Video with this story came Courtesy of WOWL-TV in Omaha, Nebraska)
Oklahoma State 2023 quarterback commitment Zane Flores played the final game of his prep career for Gretna High School on Monday night in the Nebraska Class A State Championship in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska. It was a rematch of the same title match-up from a year ago where Gretna won 7-3, but had to later vacate the title due to an ineligible player. This year on the way Flores became the all-time leading passer by yards and by completions in leading the Dragons back to the Championship Game. On Monday night Flores did all he could, but in the end the kicker for Omana Westside became the MVP with a kicking performance for the ages. Tristan Alvano hit his fifth field goal of the game with no time left on the game clock for a 43-41 Westside win.
Flores completed 24-of-37 passing for 414-yards and three touchdowns. He also threw three interceptions, but it was Flores and his arm and legs that kept Gretna in the game they never led until there was 1:55 left on the clock.
Trailing 7-0 early, Flores hit his first touchdown pass of the game for 52-yards to Tyler Boganowski to tie the game. Then Westside spurted off to a 21-7 advantage before Flores struck again. This time he connected with Blayke Moore down the middle of the field for an 80-yard touchdown pass. Just before halftime, Flores guided the Dragons offense on a long drive and finished it with a two-yard touchdown pass to Etah Stuhr.
At halftime Westside led 31-21.
In the second half, Flores continued to lead Gretna back and scored on a tough, determined not to be denied score zone run of seven-yards as he dragged defenders into the end zone. Flores ran 10 times for 64-yards and that touchdown that made it 34-27.
Finally with 1:55 left and after Flores hit Moore again, this time on a 54-yard pass to the Westside 14-yard-line the Dragons took the lead. Running back Isaiah Webber scored on the next play and the extra point put Gretna up 41-40.
Omaha Westside had too much time and drove the ball down for Alvano to hit the game winner from 45-yards on the last play. Alvano earlier in the game hit field goals of 44, 50, 27, and 42-yards. It was a record for a Nebraska State Championship Game.
Still, Flores was responsible for 478-yards and four touchdowns in his last game for Gretna and he holds those all-time Nebraska passing records.
He is scheduled to sign with OSU in December and be on campus for the spring semester.