Cross County closes out regular season with 46-8 win over previously unbeaten Shelby/Rising City

Two-Time Cross County All-State player Alex Noyd (#55/Blue jersey) executes a terrific pass block on Shalby/Rising City's Coy Vrbka (#2/white jersey). Cross County won the game 46-8 Friday night.

CROSS COUNTY SPORTS COMPLEX, SOUTH of STROMSBURG, NE

The scoreboard said it was a close game in the first half. Cross County 20 Shelby/Rising City 8. That statistics did not reflect that, but these unbeaten Cougars still needed a lift in the second half to turn back a really good, previously unbeaten Shelby/Rising City squad.

Two time All-State offensive lineman started the game at fullback, with fellow strongman Izaac Dickey lined up behind at running back.

Head Coach Matt Carroll was not happy with the lack of offensive production during the opening half, especially the way the Shelby/Rising City defense was penetrating into the Cross County backfield.

You see, other than a week ago against a defending D1 champion Clarkson-Leigh, these Cougars are accustomed to leading a Gazillion to 12 at halftime and returning to the field with a running clock in the second half.

It ended up being a simple chess move type adjustment. Just move the incredible blocking, pancake machine monster Alex Noyd back into the O-Line, move Dickey up to fullback, and alternate Ashton Seim and Brayden Schmidtberger at running back.

Worked like a charm. Nothin’ to it. Second half score; Cross County 26 Shelby/Rising City 0. Well, actually it was a bit tougher than that.

*Things I saw tonight;

Cross County is as good as advertised on both sides of the football. Brutal offensive blocking and fearless, head-hunting defense.

What was even more impressive was the fact they did it against a terrific Shelby/Rising City football team that can flat out turn any football game into a classic slobber-knocker.

Big, strong kids, many of them young and many whipped into marvelous football shape from being outstanding on the Wrestling mats.

The rough, tough Vrbka boys, #22, 6-0, 200 pound sophomore Coy (#32) and 6-4, 230 pound junior Collin. Then there are the Fjell boys, senior Ethan (#56) and sophomore Eli (#44), both built like short, muscle-bound human Sherman tanks. 6-3 senior Isaac Whitmore was also outstanding.

That’s what made this 46-8 Cross County win so impressive. These Huskies are a very good football team that should win at least one postseason game. Maybe more.

As far as the Cougars go, it’s a no-brainer to say how good Dickey, Noyd and Tanner Hollinger are. Three sure-fire All-Staters there.

Rafe Peterson is a good O-Lineman and Andrew Dubas did an exceptional job being thrust into a starting Center gig tonight. The kid has HEART.

Junior TE Langdon Arbuck performed well on both sides of the ball, catching a TD pass then turning right around to pick off a Shelby/RC pass.

Brayden Schmidtberger ran hard with his slippery, gliding runs and Ashton Seim reminded me of his 2000 yard rushing older brother Carter, who is now coaching on the sidelines, along with Dad Danny.

And how sweet was that 36 yard run by Carter Schaefer? The junior QB/DB flashed some quick wheels on that baby.

Cross County is just one outstanding football team who has put up video game-type offensive numbers and brought the wood on defense.

Well, now all we have to do is wait for the NSAA to release the opening round parings for the 8-Man postseason.

This Cougars bunch is the best 8-Man team I’ve seen live this season, but there are strong contenders lurking out there in these brutal Class D1 ranks.

The physical, bone-crushing Stanton Mustangs, the Irish invaders from the West, North Platte St. Pats, a better-than-you-think Sandy Creek squad, a really good EMF team, and strong Crofton, Hi-Line, Plainview and this same Shelby/Rising City team we saw Friday night.

We’ll all know late Saturday morning when the brackets are released, but I predict this Cross County team will be a BIG factor determining who wins it all in D1 in this upcoming Holy Season.

Stay tuned.

………………………………..1…….2…….3…….4……….Final

Shelby/Rising City (7-1)…..8……..0……..0……..0…………….8

Cross County (8-0)............14…….6….....14.…..12….…...….46

1st Qtr.………………………………………………......CC-SRC

CC- Izaac Dickey 3 run - PAT- Dickey run…8-0 - (11:03)

SRC- Gabe Dutton-Mofford 51 run - PAT- Ethan Fjell run…8-8 - (9:51)

CC- Lucas Jacobsen 78 run - PAT-run failed…14-8 - (8:58)

2nd Qtr

CC- Langdon Arbuck 25 pass from Jacobsen - PAT- run failed…20-8 - (8:46)

3rd Qtr

CC- Brayden Schmidtberger 1 run - PAT- Tanner Hollinger pass from Jacobsen…28-8 - (7:25)

CC- Ashton Seim 2 run - PAT-run failed…34-8 - (4:37)

4th Qtr

CC- Carson Schaefer 36 run - PAT- run failed…40-8 - (7:25)

CC- Izaac Dickey 1 run - PAT- run failed…46-8 - (7:52)