Nemaha 27, Holton 13

Withstanding an early punch and converting on huge third down plays helped Nemaha improve to 5-0 on the football season, beating Holton for the first time in 20 years.  A balanced attack on offense went on two long drives to start the game and then scored on a pair of short drives in the second half after getting two takeaways on defense and a huge return on special teams.  The Thunder out gained and outplayed Holton in every phase of the game with 75 more yards on offense, one fewer turnover, multiple specials teams plays and ultimately, ended the Wildcats Big 7 win streak at 48 games.      

Playing their first home game since week one, Holton was amped up at the start on homecoming.  The Wildcats received the opening kickoff and on the first play of the game, Justin Rieschick found Mason Barta for a 32-yard pass.  Three snaps later, Justin Pool ran in a one yard score and kicked the PAT to put the Cats ahead 7-0 less than two minutes into the game.  Yet, with Nemaha Central facing a third down and seven on their third play, Dylan Steinloge found Tristan Allen on a reverse pass play for 42 yards and Trenton Henry capped the drive with a two yard touchdown run and PAT to tie the score.  Holton had to punt on their second possession, and Nemaha marched right back down field to take the lead for good on a 10 play, 76-yard drive.  It included a third and six and third and 14 conversion, before Ryan Hasenkamp found Dalton Hiltibrand for a touchdown on a third down and goal play from the six-yard line.  The 14-7 lead, late in the fist quarter, stayed the same through halftime as Holton turned the ball over on downs at the Nemaha 26 on their next drive, then fumbled their final two possessions of the half at the Thunder four and 23 yard lines.  

An impressive kick return to the Holton 35-yard line by Kyle Rethman started the second half and Nemaha needed just three plays to add to their lead on a bizarre play.  The snap was bobbled and picked off the ground by Hasenkamp before he bought some time and threw a pass that was deflected and almost intercepted by Bryson Patch, but instead caught by Hiltibrand, who ran 39 yards for the score to make it 20-7.  Holton used the rest of the third quarter on a 20-play drive that ended with a Mason Barta two yard TD run.  Steinloge blocked the PAT to make it 20-13, but the Wildcats had some momentum.  They had Nemaha into a third down and 21 situation before Nemaha came up with yet another huge third down play when Hasenkamp found Allen deep over the middle for a perfect 42 yard strike.  

Bryson Patch did have an interception to keep the Cats alive early in the fourth quarter, but Holton went three and out after another untimely penalty, and Nemaha Central put the game away with a Hasenkamp four yard run that made it 27-13 with 5:05 to go.  Dalton Hiltibrand had a sack for the Thunder to end Holton's final drive at midfield.

Barta finished with 21 carries for 110 yards for the Wildcats who fall to 2-3 overall with the loss and suffered their first Big 7 League loss since 2007 at Sabetha.  They play at ACCHS next week before district play begins.   

Nemaha converted an incredible 8 of 11 on third down plays, led by quarterback, Hasenkamp, who had 75 yards rushing and was 10 of 16 passing for 177 yards while accounting for three scores.  Winston Meyer  was the Denison State Bank "Lineman of the Game" and along with fellow senior returning starters, Kyle Kramer and Kurtis Niehues, helped protect their quarterback and drive the offense.  Allen was named the Citizens State Bank and Trust Company of Hiawatha "Player to Bank On," catching 6 huge passes for 150 yards.  Hiltibrand had 55 yards on 3 grabs as Nemaha Central improved to 5-0 on the season and can win the Big 7 League title with a home victory against Jeff West next Friday.