The Nemaha Central Thunder advanced to the Class 2A sub-state championship game by winning at Osage City on Friday night 33-27 in the sectional round. 

Osage City (10-1) wasted little time jumping out in front as they got the ball first and scored two plays into the game. 

Kasen Parsons found Quenten Stark for a 70-yard touchdown pass wihch gave the Indians an early 7-0 lead. 

Nemaha Central (10-1) struggled on their first drive going three-and-out and giving it right back to Osage City. 

The Thunder defense forced a three-and-out and were able to work down the field for their first score of the game on a trick play. 

On fourth down, it was Kamden Schmitz who found Mason Schultejans on a reverse pass for an 11-yard score which tied the game at 7-7 early in the second quarter. 

Osage City worked another drive and had a touchdown wiped off the board because of an offensive pass interference call and they would settle for a 26-yard field attempt which was wide left. 

The Thunder followed that miss with an 80-yard drive capped off by a one-yard touchdown run from Carter Hajek and NC would take their first lead of 14-7. 

The Indians followed that Thunder touchdown with Dylan Theel taking the ensuing kickoff back 75 yards for a touchdown and the game would go into the half tied at 14-14. 

Nemaha Central received the opening kick of the second half and worked a 69-yard touchdown drive capped off by a Hajek four yard run. 

The Thunder would miss the extra point try and they would lead 20-14 early in the third quarter. 

Osage City wasted little time retaking the lead going 68 yards in under 90 seconds as Parsens scored a touchdown from two yards out and the extra point gave the Indians at 21-20 advantage. 

Osage City gathered a little more momentum as Hajek would fumble and turn the ball over with the Indians taking advantage of a short field with another Parsons run from five yards out. 

The two-point conversion try was no good so the Indians lead over the Thunder was 27-20 going into the fourth quarter. 

The Thunder would go 77 yards with Hajek scoring from seven yards out and the extra point would tie the game at 27-27 early in the final quarter. 

Osage City would work a big time drive taking up most of the time in the fourth quarter and were facing 4th-and-11 from inside the Thunder 20-yard line and elected to go for it instead of trying a field goal and they would come up two yards short and they would turn it over on downs. 

With under four minutes left, Nemaha Central went 90-yards and Hajek would score from one-yard out with under 20 seconds left to give the Thunder a 33-27 lead and that would go on to be the final score. 

Osage City got in position for a hail mary attempt but the Thunder defense knocking down the pass near the goalline to secure the win. 

Unofficial stats for Carter Hajek was 46 carries for 273 yards and four touchdowns. 

Unofficial stats for Osage City Kasen Parsons was 18-of-23 passing for 237 yards and three total touchdowns while adding 83 rushing yards. Quenten Stark caught five passes for 149 yards and a touchdown. 

The three-peat championship run is still alive for the Thunder as they will host Council Grove in the sub-state championship game on Friday, Nov. 22.