LINCOLN — Wahoo’s offense didn’t miss a beat even without leading rusher Greg Milliken, thanks to a monster night from a pair of underclassmen.

Junior Seth Stewart rushed for 212 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries, and sophomore Tyler Kavan had four scores — including a pair on kickoff returns — as third-seeded Wahoo ran away from Lincoln Lutheran 49-15 in a Class C-1 second-round game Wednesday at Seacrest Field.

Kavan also ran for 110 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries as Wahoo (9-1) rolled up 366 yards on the ground.

Milliken suffered an injury in Wahoo’s first-round win over Arlington, leaving Stewart and Kavan a week to prepare to share the load.

“Coach said we were going to run the ball,” Stewart said, “but I kind of thought we would split it more than we did.

“The offensive line played its best game of the year by far this game.”

Kavan may have had more chances to run the ball had he not been so electric on kickoffs. The 160-pounder quickly erased Lincoln Lutheran’s 3-0 lead with an 82-yard return in the first quarter. He followed that up by taking the second-half kickoff 80 yards to put Wahoo on top 28-3.

“I love having the open field where there’s anywhere for me to go,” Kavan said. “I just made one cut on both of them and I was gone. There were big holes.”

Kavan added his two touchdown runs in the second half as Wahoo’s offensive line began to wear on Lincoln Lutheran (4-6).

“Both those guys are very capable running backs for being underclassmen,” Wahoo coach Chad Fox said. “We felt comfortable coming into this game with those running backs. In all reality, those backs would start on most teams we play. They’re very good. It’s just that they’ve got Greg in front of them who’s exceptional.”

Fox said Wahoo should get Milliken back for Tuesday’s match-up with Norfolk Catholic in the C-1 quarterfinals, while the loss ends a feel-good story for Lincoln Lutheran, which started the year 1-5 before winning its final two regular season games to make the playoffs. Lutheran then upset Tekamah-Herman in overtime last week.

“Most teams would’ve folded up camp and headed out for the winter, and this team didn’t,” Lincoln Lutheran coach Lyle Ziems said. “It was faithful to their Lord. It was what God’s people are supposed to do if the spirit is moving in them. Yeah, we’re not supposed to be playing tonight, but I thought we came out and played very hard.”

Wahoo (9-1)..................7 14 21 7—49

Lincoln Lutheran (4-6)................3 0 12 0—15

LL: Taylor Katt FG 25

W: Tyler Kavan 82 KO Ret (Ethan Harders kick)

W: Seth Stewart 3 run (kick blocked)

W: Christian Hohl 24 from Sean Lindgren (Stewart run)

W: Kavan 80 KO Ret (Harders kick)

LL: Skyler Hawkins 1 run (kick failed)

W: Kavan 8 run (Harders kick)

LL: Logan Wachal 11 from Eric Beckman (run failed)

W: Stewart 20 run (Harders kick)

W: Kavan 32 run (Harders kick)

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