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DC-S Tigers knock out nemesis Bobcats
BENKELMAN, Neb. — Hemingford Bobcats have been monsters for Dundy County-Stratton right around Halloween in recent years.
“We hadn’t played them the last two years, butbefore that we played for the district title,” DC-S coach Mike Spargo recalled. “We didn’t win.”
The holiday scene felt even worse when Tiger senior Keegan Krutsinger limped off his home field just one play into Thursday’s D-1 state playoff game.
Tiger fans are hopeful it’s only an MCL strain for Krutsinger, and at least they got a real good sign on this Halloween night:
Other Tigers like senior Jesus Olivas and freshman Samuel Fasso were ready to step up.
“Those guys did a fantastic job on both lines,” Spargo declared as the Tigers shut out Hemingford, 38-0, to turn a 12-12 tie into an awesome 50-12 playoff win. “What a good confidence booster. Last year, we started (playoffs) with a 30-29 win over a really underrated Cambridge team.”
“To come out against a good program like Hemingford and win like we did,” he added. “I’m just so proud of how these guys played.”
The Tigers (8-1 record) took charge behind their usual explosive trio of junior Serbando Diaz, sophomore quarterback Quade Myers and freshman speedster Corbin Horner.
Diaz’s 54-yard first touchdown broke a 6-6 tie just moments after Myers threw an interception to set up the first Bobcat TD.
“We ran a screen and a guy got in Quade faster than we expected,” Spargo explained. “Quade knew right away he should just have thrown it at the guy’s feet. But the great thing is that he doesn’t dwell on a mistake.”
Indeed. Neither Myers nor the Tigers flinched when Hemingford (5-4) caught them again at 12-12 with an impressive touchdown drive.
Spargo has so much confidence in his team that DC-S lined up to go for fourth down and one at its own 29-yard line.
Myers smartly drew Bobcats offsides to get the first down.
On the next play, he broke outside containment and dashed down to Hemingford’s 10.
Myers quickly ran in a nine-yard TD that started the Tigers’ 38-0 finishing run.
The Bobcats (5-4 record) lost a fumble during their next play which DC-S recovered.
Myers then handed the football to Horner, who sped around end 25 yards into another DC-S six points.
The ensuing Myers two-point run made it 26-12 entering halftime.
“Corbin’s a guy people have said we have to get on the field,” Spargo said. “It’s tough, because we can only play eight. But we’ve looked for ways to get him the football.”
Mauricio Diaz — another freshman — found the football twice as he recovered two more Bobcat fumbles.
Hemingford also bobbled away two potential field-position changing punts.
Each time, the punter scooped up his drop and tried to make a first down.
It was as likely as kids celebrating apples and carrots in their trick-or-treat bags.
Following the second punt flub, Myers ran 25 yards to his next TD and sent a two-point pass into senior Domonic Sis.
Mauricio Diaz made his second recovery of a fumble, and Serbando Diaz turned this into six more points while stiff-arming away multiple tackle attempts.
Sis’ touchdown catch capped the 50-12 victory.
Senior Lane Shillington and Sis made tackles behind the line to keep Hemingford from scoring another point.
The Tigers were on their way to a D-1 “Sweet 16” matchup against 8-1 Fullerton on Wednesday.
Fullerton’s the West No. 2 playoff seed behind only unbeaten No. 1 Cambridge (9-0) in this 32-team playoff field.
“They (Fullerton) have a lot of speed,” Spargo said. “They will present a lot of challenges for us. The road trip will be fun. It gives you a day to be together