Entering last night, both Nemaha Central and Sabetha were playing for the important implications of not only the league but a crucial district game. Though neither has been secured yet by Nemaha Central after the dominant 24-0 win over Sabetha, they have a massive opportunity in their final two weeks to control their destiny. Sabetha and Nemaha Central had both not lost a game on the season in district play and had been looking to stay unbeaten. However, tonight, the Thunder, Nemaha Central, came in with some fire and fuel in the incredible win.

Nemaha Central started with the ball to start the game, and they wound up punting on their first drive, Sabetha followed suit with a punt of their own on their first drive. The Thunder would begin the scoring with a long drive capped off with a 1-yard touchdown run by junior quarterback Carter Hajek. However, this score came into the opening of the second quarter as it was still a 0-0 game exiting the first, regardless, Nemaha put up the first points of the game and went up 6-0, missing the extra point. 

Before the half, the Thunder managed to put up one more score on their fourth possession of the game. This touchdown was set up upon their previous drive, where they managed to pin Sabetha at their 4-yard line. In their territory, the Bluejays threw an interception to Jack Macke, who intercepted the ball coming off the defense edge, the pick set up another Carter Hajek touchdown. Rolling into Halftime, it was a 12-0 game; the Thunder had controlled the possession clock the entire first half, minimizing both teams to just four total possessions, with the Bluejay's last possession of the half being just under sixty seconds.

The second half began with the Bluejays on their fifth drive, but it remained stagnant, and when the Thunder took over, they had their third rushing touchdown of the night by Carter Hajek again. Unfortunately for the Bluejays, they would throw two more interceptions in the second half, alongside two turnover-on-downs. Still, in the third quarter, Carter Hajek had his final touchdown run of the night that put his team up 24-0, despite not completing a single point after attempt on the night, the Thunder could not be stopped going into the end zone. 

The game ended with a scoreless fourth by both teams, and despite even being set up on one drive on the Thunder’s 10-yard line off a Cole Menold kick return, the Bluejays just couldn’t budge the number zero off the board. Carter Hajek finished the night with four rushing touchdowns, including posting well over 80 yards rushing and somewhere over 25 carries. Both teams also played with some of, if not the best, sportsmanship I’ve ever witnessed, and both teams should be very proud of their respective teams last night.

Sabetha will aim to bounce back next week against a district opponent, the Oskaloosa Bears. Nemaha Central will seek to keep things rolling as they face Royal Valley in another important test in both league and district.