Kearney Catholic started their Homecoming game against Hastings St. Cecilia with a 93 yard kickoff return touchdown from Carson Murphy. The Stars never looked back in a resounding 31-7 victory over the previously undefeated Bluehawks.
The scoring explosion would continue later in the first, as Brant Christner would connect with Pete Homan for a 6 yard touchdown pass midway through the opening frame.
St. Cecilia, without standouts Jenson Anderson and Quinn Rosno due to injury, relied heavily on the run game, eating up eight minutes before scoring in the final minute of the opening quarter, on a Chase Evans 40yd pass to JJ Schaefer.
The Stars would punch in another score before halftime, with Murphy hauling in a 29 yd pass from Christner.
The Stars defensive stand also proved tall when needed most, with two goal line stands in the final minutes of the first have to keep the Bluehawks in single digits going into halftime.
St. Cecilia would be forced to punt the ball away after receiving the ball first in the second half, and the offence didn’t need to step on the field to expand the score even more. Jacob Lowe would run his second punt return touchdown of the season from 82 yards out.
Neither team could get much traction throughout the rest of the contest. The Stars would have to be forced to settle for a field goal after being shut out of the endzone by the Bulehawk defense.
The Stars improve to 5-1 on the season, and will travel to Ord next week. Ord defeated Amherst 49-0.
St. Cecilia falls to 5-1 in their first loss of the year, and will host Wood River. Wood River fell to Grand Island Central Catholic, 28-14.
Kearney Catholic head coach Rashawn Harvey after the Stars 31-7 victory over Hastings St. Cecilia…
KEARNEY CATHOLIC (5-1)……14…7…7…3…31
HASTINGS ST. CECILIA (5-1)…7…..0…0…0…7
11:47 Q1
Carson Murphy 93yd KO Return TD (Solomon Weins XP Good)
Kearney Catholic 7-0 Hastings St. Cecilia
8:29 Q1
Brant Christner 6yd TD pass to Pete Homan (Weins XP Good)
Kearney Catholic 14-0 Hastings St. Cecilia
0:52 Q1
Chase Evans 40 yard TD pass to JJ Schaefer (Jaden Almond XP Good)
Kearney Catholic 14-7 Hastings St. Cecilia
10:51 Q2
Christner 29 yd TD pass to Murphy (Weins XP Good)
Kearney Catholic 21-7 Hastings St. Cecilia
5:40 Q3
Jacob Lowe 82yd Punt Return TD
Kearney Catholic 28-7 Hastings St. Cecilia
2:07 Q4
Weins 34yd FG
Kearney Catholic 31-7 Hastings St. Cecilia
