FREMONT – The Kearney Bearcats handled business on the road in Week 2 at Fremont’s Heedum Field, winning 41-6 over the Tigers. Click here to listen to the broadcast replay.
Kearney entered the Week Two matchup 1-0 on the season after their 41-28 victory over Lincoln East the prior week. Fremont began their season in Week Zero, having dropped their first games of the year to Columbus and Papillion-LaVista South. The Week Two matchup would be the home opener for the Tigers.
The Bearcats came out attacking quickly on defense, forcing a three-and-out and a punt for Fremont. A low snap allowed the Kearney rush to push through, giving senior Karter Lee a chance to block the ensuing punt, scoop, then score all in one fell swoop. Kearney led in the opening moments 7-0.
Following the punt block, Fremont drove down the field after several significant runs and gains through the air. A fourth down incompletion in Kearney territory resulted in a turnover on downs, giving the ball back to Kearney.
Kearney Football @ Fremont // Corbey Dorsey // CNT
Both teams traded punts – including back-to-back sacks by the Bearcats’ Baker Bertrand and Sawyer Schilke – until Kearney again drove down the field into Fremont territory. An untimely fumble by Kearney resulted in a Fremont stop, until the Tigers followed with their own fumble. Able Molina rumbled in for a score from ten yards out on the ensuing play, putting Kearney up 14-0 with less than a minute to play in the first quarter.
After flipping the field after the change of the quarter, Kearney’s Kaleb Larson stepped in front of a Tiger pass to score from 24 yards out on an interception pick-six, giving the Bearcats their second non-offensive touchdown and a 21-0 lead.
Both teams then traded back-to-back possessions resulting in punts until Fremont mounted a seven play, sixty yard scoring drive ending in a quarterback sneak by sophomore Ayden Bohaboj, cutting the lead to 21-6.
The Bearcats quit playing with their food offensively, going on another one play drive for an Able Molina 64 yard touchdown rumble. 28-6, Kearney at halftime.
Kearney Football @ Fremont // Corbey Dorsey // CNT
Kearney opened the second half with the ball, and picked up right where they left off. Molina burned Fremont for the third time, going 66 yards out for a score to make the lead 35-6.
Fremont went six plays on their first possession of the second half before a strip sack ended back in Baker Bertrand’s hands on the recovery, giving the Bearcats excellent field position for another short drive. Three plays and twenty five yards later, Eli Randolph punched the final nail in the coffin with 7:32 remaining in the third quarter after a four yard touchdown plunge.
The Bearcats placed their reserves in late, holding off more scoring chances by Fremont and playing keep away in the final quarter and a half of play. Kearney earned their second win despite having thrown for negative passing yards, moving to 2-0 on the season with the 41-6 victory.
Kearney moves on to Week 3 returning home for a showdown with 2-0 Lincoln North Star.
Fremont drops to 0-3 and heads to Lincoln Northeast next week.
KGFW KEARNEY TEAM STATS:
Passing: 1/6, -2 yards
Rushing: 21 carries, 285 yards, 4 TD, 3 FUM (2 lost)
Able Molina: 7 carries, 169 yards, 3 TD (1 fumble)
Sam Nachtigal: 8 carries, 68 yards
Griffin Novacek: 2 carries, 21 yards
Eli Randolph: 3 carries, 14 yards
Receiving:
Eli Randolph: 1 reception, -2 yards
