The Nemaha Central Middle School Football team traveled to St. Marys for their first football game on Thursday, September 5, 2024. The team consists of 25 boys: 9 eighth graders and 17 seventh graders. Coaches Hadden Hiltgen, Jesse Helm, and Michael Ohlsen are assisted by managers Mason Clary and Kendrick Maley.
The first quarter didn’t start the way the team wanted it to go. St. Marys had the first possession of the game and within a few plays they fumbled the ball, and Kaden Sperfslage jumped on the ball. NC had some good plays but turned the ball over. Now St. Marys had the ball and within a few plays they ran the ball in for a touchdown. They added two points to their score by running in the ball for the conversion to take an early lead 8-0. Neither team scored the rest of the quarter.
Both teams played great defense throughout the second quarter until the last two minutes of the quarter when Hudson Kuckelman threw a pick-six. St. Marys went all the way to the endzone for a touchdown. NC was able to keep St. Marys from scoring the two point conversion, and the first half ended 14-0.
In the third quarter, both teams played solid defense. It was 4 and out for both teams. NC was close to scoring but was stopped short in the red zone. The score remained 14-0 in favor of the Bears.
In the first few minutes of the fourth quarter, NC was within 10 yards of the endzone when St. Marys stopped them again on their fourth down attempt. Later in the quarter, St. Marys ran 25 yards to score another touchdown but was unable to convert for 2 points. NC made another great attempt to score with several runs by Hudson Kuckelman. The score was 20-0 with the game coming to an end.
Eighth grader Kaden Sperfslage said, “Getting the fumble recovery and working as a team was my favorite part of the game.”
It was seventh grader Grant Heinen’s first middle school football game. He said, “Tackling people and hitting kids was my favorite part of the game.”
Article by: Trent Stuke, Hudson Kuckelman, and Aidan Henry