KEARNEY – The Kearney High Bearcats were down on their luck having lost their last three contests in a row, but found the right groove and righted the ship with a 34-14 win over the Lincoln High Links on Friday night at Ron and Carol Cope Stadium. Click here to listen to the broadcast.
Kearney was still licking their wounds from a heartbreaking 35-31 last second loss to Columbus the week prior, while Lincoln High benefited from a road victory over Lincoln Northeast. Kearney entered the contest at 2-4 and placed 16th in Power Points while Lincoln High was 3-3 and sitting at 21st.
The game started off exactly how the Bearcats wanted to go: starting with a good kick return from Rian Green, the Bearcats’ offense began humming along down the field on a 9 play, 56 yard scoring drive that included three first down conversions and was capped by a hard-nosed seven yard touchdown scamper by senior back Parker Wise.
Leading 7-0 with 7:46 remaining in the first quarter, the Kearney defense was ready to prove their worth. Those moments would come later in the contest, as the first drive from Lincoln started at their own 15 yard line after a mishap on the kickoff return. Lincoln plodded down the field, converting long third down conversions on three separate occasions – often off the playmaking ability of their quarterback Ja Reese Lott-Buzby. Buzby connected on a 30 yard touchdown strike to a future star Beni Ngoyi on an acrobatic catch along the Lincoln sideline and finishing inside the pylon for a touchdown. After the point after try, the game was tied at 7 all.
Kearney would finish out the first quarter moving down the field with some first down plays, but was forced to punt after their eight play drive would stall out due to an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty negating a big gain.
Lincoln would then take the ball from their own 28 yard line and move down the field into Kearney territory after a moonshot toss from Lott-Buzby to receiver Tyler Lorenz. The connection landed the Links at the Kearney 25 yard line, but Lincoln High would never get closer to the endzone after being drug behind for a tackle for loss, followed by a sack, then a turnover on downs.
Kearney would take the ensuing drive down the field slowly but steadily, intermixing running by quarterback Riley Miller with quick timing passes to score on a 75 yard drive in 12 plays. The touchdown scored was again by Wise, this time from three yards out. Kearney led in the second quarter 14-7 with only 3:02 to play in the first half.
Lincoln was forced to punt on their next possession, leading to another Kearney drive that would end in an interception. After another Lincoln High punt – unable to find any success off the turnover – the half would unceremoniously end at a 14-7 lead for the Bearcats.
Lincoln High would receive the second half kickoff and proceeded to fumble following an eight play drive which saw multiple first downs gained by the Links. The fumble would start a chain of unfortunate missteps by the Links, first shown on the ensuing offensive possession for Kearney.
The Bearcats needed three plays from the turnover to strike twice – sort of. Kearney was facing a third down and 4 from the 49 yard line of Lincoln High. Riley Miller looked to his right and fired a dart to streaking Kaden Miller screaming off the line for an inside slant route. Miller would then proceed to shake-and-bake, dipping and diving away from defenders before sprinting down the far sideline for a score. However, the play was called back due to an illegal motion penalty.
Kearney would be set in third and 9, and instead faded a route to Kaden along the Lincoln High sideline. This time, without the fancy footwork show and escapability, Kaden Miller strictly used speed to outrun his defenders to the endzone for a score. Kearney led 21-7.
Lincoln would then punt after a three-and-out, and Kearney would drive down the field 68 yards and score off a 4th and 9 toss to Kaden Miller once again. Miller Time was on at Ron and Carol Cope Stadium, giving the Bearcats a 28-7 advantage with 60 seconds to play in the third.
A strip sack by senior D’Andre Ndugwa led to another scoring opportunity, as Kearney proceeded to run Green 10 yards into the endzone. 34-7, Bearcats.
Lincoln High would add another score later in the contest after a 14 play drive, but never sniffed the endzone again as the Bearcats broke their losing skid and would win 34-14 in the final.
Kearney improves to 3-4 on the year and faces Elkhorn South to close out the home stand at Foster Field. Pregame coverage begins on KGFW at 6:30 p.m. with kickoff set for 7 p.m.
Lincoln High falls to 3-4 on the year and will face off against Omaha Northwest next week.
