Friday evening the #2 seeded Hitchcock County Falcons hosted #6 seeded Bloomfield in the Class D2 semifinals in the NSAA Football Playoffs. Heading into this game, obviously, neither one of these two knew much about one another. That didn't slow down the Falcons as they were able to win big, 48-0.
In the first quarter, the Falcons took possession of the ball to get started. Hitchcock County did what they have done all season. Pound the rock on a 53-yard drive that took us to the 5:48 mark in the first period as Keynan Gaston ran it in from a couple of yards out. The two-point conversion was good and they went up 8-0.
For Bloomfield, their first possession resulted in an interception as Braden Guenther tossed one into double coverage and the Falcons picked it off. The Falcons, on their next play from the Bloomfield 15, threw an interception themselves as Wiley Ziegler took it away giving the Bees the ball back. Bloomfield then moved the ball a little bit against the Falcon defense but ended up turning it over on downs. That turned into a theme for the Bees, struggling on the offensive side due to a stout Falcon defense.
Hitchcock County went into the second quarter up 8-0.
In the second quarter, the Falcons took over. They converted a fourth down early in the quarter, and then eventually Drew Scott punched it from a yard out to advance the lead to 16-0 with 9:29 to go in the quarter. After another stop, Keynan Gaston again found the endzone from four yards out, and this time they were unable to convert the two-point conversion but Hitchcock County was cruising up 22-0.
Bloomfield's offensive struggles continued as they took the ball from their own 15-yard line and had no luck moving it as they had to punt it away. The Falcons had prime field position at the Bloomfield 34-yard line. The Falcons made quick work this time, as they started with the ball with 2:55 to go before the half, and at the 1:03 mark Keynan Gaston hit Drew Scott on a 14-yard pass and the conversion was good to make it 30-0.
That's what the score read at the half.
In the second half, the Falcons picked up where they left off. Drew Scott scored again, this time at the 6:16 mark in the third quarter from four yards out to make it 36-0. The defense for the Falcons remained unrelenting as they continued to pitch a shutout, let alone give up many yards.
Hitchcock County rounded out the scoring in this one with Drew Scott scoring on the ground on a 36-yard run, and then Keynan Gaston hit Kolyn Gaston on a 35-yard pass to make it 48-0 and round out the scoring.
The Falcon defense was huge in the win as they allowed just 146 yards of total offense to the Bees. Bloomfield's season ends with a 10-2 record.
For Hitchcock County, they are 12-0 and will play in the Class D2 State Championship game on Monday, November 21st at 10:15 A.M. The opponent for the Falcons is #1 seeded Howells-Dodge.
