Balanced attack keys Hayes Center playoff win

Steve Kodad/McCook Daily Gazette Hayes Center running back Keifer Messersmith (11) throws a stiff arm on would-be Chambers tackler Taylor Nichols as the senior maneuvers for a big gain in the Class D-2 playoff quarterfinals at Hayes Center Tuesday evening. Messersmith had a huge night, with 211 rushing yards, to lead the Cardinals to a 49-6 victory.

HAYES CENTER -- High school coaches try to entice their teams into peak performances at the end of the season.

Hayes Center head coach Scott Jorgensen has his Cardinals doing just that, with a berth in the Class D-2 football playoff semifinals as a reward.

The Cardinals ran past Chambers Tuesday evening in a 49-6 victory in an eight-man post-season quarterfinal contest at Hayes Center.

Steve Kodad/McCook Daily Gazette Hayes Center quarterback Tyler Rehbein (14) finds wide open spaces outside on this run against Chambers in D-2 quarterfinal playoff action Tuesday. Rehbein gained 19 yards on the play.

The hosts gained 402 total yards and held the Coyotes to just 121 total yards.

"That was very impressive the way we went out and executed tonight," Coach Jorgensen said after Tuesday's win. "One thing we've been really working with the boys is setting the tone right away, establishing our level of play and not trying to play too hard, or not trying to play down. Just try to make plays, and try not to make a big play, because big plays just happen.

"Big plays are nothing more than a common play, just a different situation. I think our boys are really starting to understand that concept. It's helped us out, obviously, tonight, and it's really helped us out the last couple of weeks."

The Cardinals had a nice blend of sustained drives mixed with several big scoring plays, balanced by a stout defense that only surrendered four first downs all night to Chambers.

Hayes Center has a potent one-two punch in the offensive backfield, with seniors Keifer Messersmith and Tyler Clifford each running for three touchdowns in Tuesday's win. Messersmith ran wild on the perimeter, with 211 yards on 31 carries, including scoring runs of 44, 1 and 20 yards. Clifford pounded the ball inside for 67 yards on 9 carries and touchdown runs of 31 and 4 yards plus a 1-yard TD plunge in the third quarter.

Sophomore quarterback Tyler Rehbein also completed 2 of 4 passes for 74 yards, including a 44-yard touchdown pass to senior tight end Brady Rosno late in the first half.

Semifinals Monday

Hayes Center, 10-1, hosts Pleasanton Monday, Nov. 16, at 3 p.m. in the D-2 playoff semifinals. Pleasanton, 11-0, stopped Sargent, 34-16, in the other west bracket quarterfinal contest Tuesday.

The Hayes Center-Pleasanton winner advances to the Class D-2 state championship final at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln Monday, Nov. 23, at 10:15 a.m.

Class D-2 State Playoffs

Hayes Center 7 22 14 6 -- 49

HC -- Tyler Clifford 31 run (Keifer Messersmith kick).

HC -- Messersmith 44 run (Brady Rosno pass from Messersmith).

HC -- Clifford 4 run (Messersmith kick).

HC -- Rosno pass 45 pass from Tyler Rebhein (Messersmith kick).

HC -- Clifford 1 run (Messersmith kick).

HC -- Messersmith 1 run (James Mate kick).

HC -- Messersmith 20 run (kick blocked).

CH -- Kyle Carr 1 run (run failed).

Hayes Center statistics

Rushing -- Keifer Messersmith 31-211, Tyler Clifford 9-67, Tanner Dow 7-40.

Passing -- Tyler Rebhein 2-4-0 74 yards.

Receiving -- Brady Rosno 2-74.

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