HASTINGS — Christopher Konicek laughed at the notion of pressure before the Sertoma 8-Man All-Star Game on Saturday.
What was the Clarkson-Leigh standout to say? When he was growing up, he had seen his two older brothers earn most valuable player honors for the East team – Aaron did the trick in 2007 and Michael in 2009.
Christopher was knee-high to a grasshopper, but he remembers.
“This game is super special,” Konicek said. “When I found out I was selected, I was so excited. I wanted to play here just like my brothers did.”
For good measure, he added to the most valuable player list as he caught three passes for 150 yards and three touchdowns as the East dominated the second half for a 36-15 win over the West in the 38th annual contest.
East head coach Blair Kalin of Hartington-Newcastle said Konicek was a huge spark for his team. The East trailed 15-0 with 55 seconds left in the first half before Konicek’s first grab – 53 yard strike from BDS quarterback Grant Norder with 29 seconds left in the second quarter – cut the lead to 15-6 at the half.
“It gave us a little momentum,” Kalin said. “We just needed something good to happen. They were just whipping us with the blitz. Then, at halftime, we did a couple of things scheme-wise to slow down that blitz.
“It was a tremendous second half for the East squad.”
.@Kingkoni2 had himself a day w/ 150 yds receiving + 3 TDs earning him the East Offensive MVP. #NE8man15 #nebpreps pic.twitter.com/RXN3Ysq4ew
— NEMFCA (@NE8manFB) June 22, 2015
That might be an understatement. After Konicek’s score ended the first half, the East scored on five of six second half possessions; stopped only by the clock that ended the game.
After quickly forcing a three-and-out to start the third quarter, the East needed three plays to cut the lead to 15-12 when Fullerton’s Garrett Sonderup scored from six yards out.
Then, after Emerson-Hubbard’s Michael Hogan recovered a Christian Best (Elm Creek) fumble on the next possession, Konicek was at it again catching a 57-yard pass from Giltner’s Ben Hinrichs for that gave the East an 18-15 lead and they never looked back.
“That first catch gave us a little momentum,” Konicek said. “At halftime, we made some good adjustments. We had some good quarterbacks making plays for us. They threw some great passes and I was able to bring them in.”
By the time, he had hauled in his third score from High Plains’ Jabe Wurtz – 40-yard strike that he ran under perfectly – the rout was on at 30-15 and Konicek had locked up his family’s third MVP award.
Kalin had high praise for Konicek after his performance.
“Christopher knows how to get open,” Kalin said. “And, boy, he made some big plays today. Most of all, he’s a great kid.”
MVP of @NE8manFB Game #PatPride pic.twitter.com/sCb4syynJj
— CLPatriotsfootball (@CLPatriotsFB) June 20, 2015
Konicek’s big day was similar to the dominance of the East squad in the second half. They finished the game with a 396-109 advantage in total yards.
“We just came it in the second half and we were locked in,” said Konicek, who will play football at Morningside in the fall. “We just wanted to win. We had been told all week, that we didn’t have enough size and this was going to be a blowout the other way.
“We just played our best. I don’t think anybody on our team could have played harder.”
And what of all those MVP awards at mom and dad’s house. Is there an addition being built to showcase them?
“I don’t know what they do with them to be honest,” Konicek laughed. “They do a good job of hiding them so our heads don’t get too big.”
