Nemaha Central won on a chilly Friday night in Humboldt by a final score of 44-20 to advance to the sub-state round for the first time since their state championship in 2019.

Senior wide receiver Gavin Cain got the first points of the game for Nemaha Central with a 21-yard touchdown catch from senior quarterback Brayden Uphaus.

On the next Cubs possession, they tried to punt it away, but the snap went over the head of the punter and was dove on in the endzone for a safety to give the Thunder a 10-0 lead. Nemaha Central would score after the Humboldt free kick with Cain getting a four-yard rushing touchdown.

Humboldt got their first score of the game on their next drive with a 38-yard touchdown reception by 6-foot-5 junior wide receiver Sam Hull from senior quarterback Trey Sommer to make it 16-6. After the Thunder got a four-yard rushing touchdown from Uphaus, the Cubs marched down the field 76 yards in just 52 seconds capped off by a 36-yard TD reception from Hull to make it 24-12 just before the half.

The Thunder got the ball first out of the break and went down the field in methodical fashion. Senior running back Cooper Hajek got his lone touchdown of the day from the eight yard line to put Nemaha Central on the right track for a blowout sectional round win.

After getting a stop, Nemaha Central went for the dagger, but fumbled the ball at the two yard line on a hook-and-lateral play. It wouldn’t matter, though, as the Thunder defense got another stop and scored a touchdown with a two-yard run from Cain to go up 38-12.

Nemaha Central freshman running back Carter Hajek got a garbage-time score and has now scored in all three of their playoff games. Cooper is the Farmers State Bank “Player to Bank On” after missing most of last week’s game with an injury. He bounced back and battled through adversity for a solid day of 23 carries for 96 yards.

Nemaha Central gets a rematch with Sabetha in the sub-state round this upcoming Friday in Seneca. The Thunder defeated the Blujays in Week 8 24-7.