There are little victories to climbing any mountain.
And, while it may not seem like it given the final score, last night Central City is climbing the C-1 mountain in football. Remember, Troy Huebert’s program has not won a playoff game since 1989, but was in the round of 16 last year for the first time since that season.
So, the task was difficult on Friday night when second-ranked Columbus Scotus visited and Huebert’s bunch lined up without three starters on defense — including big lineman Wakiya Kearney — and the Shamrocks left with a 49-21 win.
“I still feel like we are much better team than we were a year ago,” Huebert said. “That’s why I told the guys I felt so sick after the game. That score doesn’t show the kind of team we have. I feel like we are a lot better than that.”
He’s right. Now the Bison just have to go prove it.
Despite the offensive numbers, Central City absorbed many blows. But, when the defense got a stop the offense bogged down. Vice versa, too.
After a nearly scoreless first quarter, Scotus got its first big play of the night — it’s shortest scoring play was 24 yards — when Marcus Dobson scored on an 81-yard run in the final minute. But, the Bison answered.
Down 14-0, Central City went 64 yards in 10 plays to cut the lead to 14-7 when Taylor Beck got an 11-yard pass from Mitch Carlson. With Scotus driving on their next possession, William Ohlman intercepted a pass and it appeared the Bison may survive the first half.
But, on 4th-and-1, Brad Schoch was stopped short and on the next play Baeley Pelster scored on the old double wing, double handoff play from 34 yards for a 21-7 lead. When he took the second play of the third quarter 49 yards for another score, Scotus was in full control.
“I just felt like the way the game was going if we punted, they’d probably run the same play and go 70 yards instead of 30 or 40,” Huebert said.
He makes a perfect point. The Shamrocks, prior to that play, had run 19 times for 207 yards on the Bison defense. It’s precision blocking out of the double wing and backs who are tough to tackle. Georgia Tech’s Paul Johnson would smile.
Scotus coach Tyler Linder has a bunch that can play on field turf, and not the one in Columbus at Pawnee Park. The one in Lincoln. Led by 22 seniors who have been through it all.
“A majority of our seniors are very talented guys,” Linder said. “And, they have been starting since they were sophomores. The senior leadership is great. Our captains do a phenomenal job of rallying our kids together.”
Let’s Rewind
Class A
Anderjaska, Cats continue to roll | NebraskaHSFootball Report
Third-ranked Westside bounces Millard South, 34-16 | NebraskaHSFootball Report
Emotional week ends with No. 4 GISH topping No. 9 Burke, 35-14
Quietly 3-0, Central tops Creighton Prep 28-20
Papio South holds on, tops city rival
Class C-1
No. 1 Norfolk Catholic tops No. 3 Neumann after late fumble | NebraskaHSFootball Report
Class C-2
After early scare, No. 1 St. Cecilia controls Fillmore Central
Eight-Man
In battle of ranked teams, BDS handles Giltner
Anselmo-Merna wins afternoon shootout with Bertrand
Parting Shot, 58 Strong
The message came to me via Facebook on Sunday morning from the man who taught me to write sports stories.
“One of Brooks’ classmates,” Terry Douglass started, “was killed in a car accident last night.”
I looked at my wife, who must have seen a post already. “Alycia’s nephew,” were the two words that made my daughter, Addison, 11, perk up. Addison and Alycia Packer’s daughter, Schyler, have tagged along together since birth. They were born a month apart in 2004 and went to daycare together and continue to attend Engelman Elementary.
One of the things they most enjoyed about the summer was going to Vacation Bible School at Third City Christian Church where the Packer’s attended. And, even though our family goes to the Catholic church nearby, they always welcomed our family.
That’s where Addison had met Schyler’s cousin, Nick Galvan. Son to Monte and Loni Galvan. Teammate to Brooks Douglass and many others. Friend. Passionate follower of Jesus Christ. Who the world lost, but Heaven gained one week ago today.
You don’t need to ask much about the impact he made when you know that people stood in line for four hours Wednesday night at his visitation, that they packed the church and had hundreds of others, like me, watch his service on-line.
Addison’s not a big fan of boys, so I knew something was up when the first words out of her mouth last week were, “He was so nice to me.” I never met Nick Galvan, but I wish I had.
Galvan dreamed of playing at Nebraska and was a tireless worker for Islander coach Jeff Tomlin. A sophomore, one of just four who traveled to Kearney for their first game, he made his varsity debut last Friday when the Islanders beat Lincoln Southeast 32-7.
“He was as strong as a bull,” Terry Douglass later messaged.
A week later, his teammates had to mourn his death and carry on. As they carried out his No. 58 jersey on the field last night, they then went about the business of dismantling ninth-ranked Omaha Burke 35-14. Terry Douglass filed the game report.
We learned much this week in Grand Island. Our hearts were torn out, but we learned about love. Our emotions ripped up, but we learned about perseverance.
At 3:13 on Thursday, a text from my wife summed the whole thing up.
“I hope our girls can grow up to have a legacy like Nick’s,” she said, simply. “What an impact he made on an entire community.”
Amen. Thank you, Nick. Forever in our hearts, above the lights.
