KEARNEY – Kearney continued their hot start to the season by taking care of North Platte’s mistakes and hitting their trademark big plays to earn their fifth straight win 21-6. Click here to listen to the broadcast.
The Bearcats were rolling entering Friday night, having won the previous week over Bellevue West and beginning to gain statewide recognition for their 4-0 start. North Platte had lost their first two games of the season at Papillion-LaVista South and Grand Island, but rattled off back-to-back wins on the road at Scottsbluff as well as dominating Columbus at home last week.
Kearney would need to slow the dominant rushing attack of North Platte led by fullback Brock Roblee and wingback Kolten Tilford. Both averaged nearly 100 yards rushing per contest and aimed to punish the Bearcat defense all night.
After winning the coin toss and deferring to the second half, the Bearcats defense rolled out to Foster Field first. North Platte would not back down from the opening challenge. The Bulldogs pounded their way down the field following the robust start by Roblee who battled for numerous carries on the opening drive. Starting from their own 31 yard line, North Platte proceeded on a thirteen play drive with four first down runs that plodded down to the Kearney five yard line.
On a goal-to-go situation inside of the Kearney redzone, North Platte’s sophomore quarterback Caden Joneson mishandled the snap exchange from center, dropping the football as Kearney’s defensive line pounced on the turnover to hand the ball to the Bearcat offense for the first time in the evening.
Kearney’s first offensive possession started strong, as Ethan Kowalek took a pitch from Treyven Beckman to rumble for a first down on the opening play. After an eight yard completion, Kearney then went backwards on a tackle-for-loss and a short pass resulted in a punt from the Bearcats.
North Platte received the punt and began their drive at their own 45 yard line, moving slowly down the field with gauging runs again from Roblee, Tilford, and Joneson. As the first quarter clock wound down, Kearney and North Platte remained in a scoreless tie.
As the second quarter began, the Bulldogs were set up after a first down run inside of Kearney’s ten yard line for a second time in as many possessions. Disaster struck again however, as Kearney’s defense wound up with another fumble recovery resulting in an empty possession for North Platte.
Kearney would not let the opportunity go to waste, as the Bearcats had their offense in rhythm from their own eight yard line. A short pass followed three consecutive runs, as Kearney found themselves converting big plays to maintain their possession. A third and long strike to Zander Reuling from Beckman pushed Kearney into North Platte territory. After another first down completion – this time to tight end Ben Cumpston – Kearney capped off their 17 play, 92 yard scoring drive with a six yard scoring dart to junior Karter Lee. Kearney nailed the extra point, leading 7-0 in the second quarter.
After forcing a three-and-out against North Platte, Kearney then worked quickly in three plays of their own to score on a 45 yard drive that ended with a Zander Reuling 23 yard touchdown reception from Beckman on a deep corner route. Kearney led 14-0 with 23 seconds remaining in the half and would hold the lead into halftime.
KHS Football v. NP // KGFW Sports
The Bearcats began the third quarter with possession of the football and put the game away with a one play strike as Lee once again received a short slant route, busted past a defender with a quick jab step, then sprinted away from all the North Platte Bulldogs in sight as the Bearcats roared to a 21-0 lead off the 71 yard touchdown catch and run.
Kearney and North Platte would trade unsuccessful drives of three-and-outs and missed opportunities following the big play, until North Platte would eventually score with less than a minute remaining on reserves. Kearney would win their firth game of the season 21-6 at Foster Field.
The Bearcats face heated rival Grand Island next week as the Islanders pushed past Fremont Friday night. Treyven Beckman ended the night at 11 of 18 for 187 yards and three touchdown tosses, while Lee had five receptions for 95 yards and two scores, with Reuling finishing with two catches for 47 yards and a touchdown.
