The Nemaha Central Thunder are back in the Class 2A State Championship game for the third straight year. 

The Thunder kept the Council Grove Braves in check on Friday night to claim the Sub-State Title by a final score of 21-6. 

Nemaha Central (11-1) scored on their first possession of the game with Carter Hajek capping an 82-yard drive with a two yard run to give NC a 7-0 lead. 

The Thunder defense was stout all game and they got two interceptions in the first quarter with one from Mason Schultejans on the Braves first drive and one from Jack Macke on the Braves second drive of the game. 

Leading 7-0 to start the second half, the Thunder worked another 82-yard touchdown drive with Hajek scoring from 27 yards out to give NC the 14-0 lead early in the third quarter. 

Both offenses stalled out over the next few possessions and NC led 14-0 going into the fourth quarter. 

The Braves were finally able to get on the board in the fourth quarter as sophomore quarterback Luke Stewart scored from five yards out but they would miss the two-point conversion and the score was cut to 14-6. 

Following that Braves touchdown, Caleb Strathman got momentum back towards the Thunder sideline with a big kickoff return that went all the way down to the Braves 31-yard line. 

It didn't take long for the Thunder to capitalize with Hajek scoring his third touchdown of the game from 20 yards out to extend the lead to 21-6. 

The Braves came back with a few big pass plays and got to first and goal at the 10-yard line but the Thunder defense forced a turnover on downs and were able to run out the remainder of the clock to secure the win. 

Hajek finished the game with 163 rushing yards and three touchdowns while completing 5-of-9 passes for 53 yards. Strathman had four receptions for 43 yards. 

Nemaha Central will battled #1 ranked and undefeated Southeast of Saline on Black Friday in Hutchinson with a scheduled 6 PM start time. We'll have the broadcast live with pregame beginning at 5:30 PM on 92.1 KMZA. 

The Thunder in search of their third straight State Title and fourth since 2019. 

POSTGAME INTERVIEWS

JR QB/DB Carter Hajek

SR C/LB Abram Keim

HC Michael Glatczak