Austin Ahlquist

The Nemaha Central football team has gone through one of the best season turnarounds of 2019 winning eight straight games since starting the season 1-2.

Throughout the eight-game win streak the Thunder have had several different players step up and that was the case once again last week as Nemaha Central upset previously unbeaten Humboldt 44-28 to book a spot in the sub-state round of the Class 2A playoffs.

Senior Austin Ahlquist was the latest player to step up for the Thunder as Friday night he was the difference maker in the second half as he racked up four catches for 104 yards and a 51-yard touchdown.

It was just his second receiving touchdown of the year and his season-high for receiving yards by over 25 yards.

Ahlquist had just 235 yards receiving going into the day with his biggest output before Friday coming in the Thunder’s loss to Holton in week three where he recorded 74 yards and one touchdown.

On the season he is up to 338 yards receiving and two touchdowns, after last season finishing with just nine catches for 157 yards and four scores.

He has also been solid defensively recording over 25 tackles on the year to go along with two interceptions.

Ahlquist and the Thunder are now 9-2 on the year and just one win away from playing for a state championship which they will have a chance to clinch Friday night hosting Riley County with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. and live coverage on 92.1 KMZA.