Bruising Ground Attack leads Nebraska Christian past Fullerton, 24-12.

The Fullerton defense (L-White) gets ready to put the halts on a potent Nebraska Christian ground attack (R-Dark). Nebraska Christian prevailed though, 24-12 on a wet and windy Friday night. *(photo by Bobby Mills)

-CENTRAL CITY, NE-

The game was only eleven seconds old when Nebraska Christian’s Noah Boersen returned the opening kickoff 69 yards for a touchdown.

Boersen’s shocker seemed to put Fullerton behind the 8 ball from the get-go, and the Warriors just never seemed to recover. That, and the Eagles punishing ground attack featuring backs that bulled for yards after contact time and time again, eventually led Nebraska Christian to a big 24-12 win over Fullerton.

On a cool and wet evening that saw temperatures plummet and wind speeds pick up, Class D-1 and 9th rated Nebraska Christian’s two-headed monster running attack of seniors Toby Watson and Jake Twogood were just too much for a Warrior defense who was finally healthy after some early season injuries.

It goes without saying that Eagles offensive line was suberb all night long. Led by big 250 pound center Seth Hower, son of former Nebraska Christian head coach, Jeff Hower, made certain the middle openings were there for Twogood, who ran for 108 yards, or Watson, who added 103 yards rushing. If the middle was clogged with Fullerton defenders, they simply bounced outside for more positive yards.

The wet surface, drizzle and then wind, prevented either team from accumulating many passing yards, but it was the continuous pounding Nebraska Christian ground game that spelled the difference, outgaining the Warriors 226 to 63.

Fullerton (4-1), who entered the contest rated #10 in Class D-1, was never really out of game until late in the 4th quarter, thanks to over 75 yards in penalities by Christian. But it was the rock solid defense by Coach Carl Ostrand’s Eagles that put the clamp on anything the Warriors would throw at them.

The Eagles defenders just wrapped up better tonight, allowing few yards after contact, although Fullerton’s tough TJ Dubas ran hard (52 yards/18 totes).

This current Nebraska Christian team had some special motovation entering the 2018 football season. The school, who has most of it’s student population living on campus, is finally eligible for the Nebraska high school football post season playoffs after being ineligible for many years because of being over the player limit for 8-Man football.

Nebraska high schools can play 8-Man football if even if they exceed the BOY enrollment number of 47, but are NOT eligible for post season play if their BOY enrollment number goes over 47. Suffice it to say, after not being eligible that past several years, the Eagles were ready to rumble in 2018.

Another impressive fact about this football team is the fact most of it’s students (players) leave for the summer, which makes it next to impossible for a coaching staff have any kind of a summer weight lifiting program. Despite missing a luxury most all schools enjoy and demand, the Nebraska Christian players appeared to possess that summer weight room strength, especially in the the lower body area.

The 6-0 Eagles will hit the road next week to face a resurgent 5-1 Ravenna team, who beat Palmer 52-32 tonight. The Eagles then close out the 2018 regular season with Palmer.

Fullerton, now 4-2, will host a 1-5 Henderson Heartland next Friday, then close out the regular season at Shelton (currently 3-3), who edged Heartland tonight, 14-6.

……………………...…………....1……..2……..3……..4……….F

Fullerton (4-2)..........................6……..0…......0……..6...…….12

Nebraska Christian (6-0)........16…….0.…….8……..0……....24

…………………...…………………………………………………………..……...…….F-NC

1st Qtr.

NC..Noah Boersen 69 Yard Kick Return…...…PAT-Jake Twogood run…….…….0...8

NC..Toby Watson 23 pass from Twogood… PAT-Watson run..………………….0..16

F.….Ryan Haughton 1 Run………….…………PAT-Run failed………………..……6..16

3rd Qtr.

NC..Jake Twogood 4 Run……….………...…...PAT-Noah Boersen run……………6..24

4th Qtr.

F…..T J Dubas 4 Run…………………………..PAT-Run failed……………………..12..24