LINCOLN – The Kearney Bearcats slogged through a gritty performance on Thursday night to kick off their high school football season, downing Lincoln East 14-6 at Seacrest Field and beginning the season on the right foot at 1-0. Click here to listen to the broadcast replay.
Coming into the contest there were more questions than answers for both sides: Kearney had to replace 21 of 22 starters from the 2021 iteration of Bearcat Football, while Lincoln East had no returning starting offensive lineman and began their search for the replacement for All-State quarterback Noah Walters after his graduation.
Returning for the Spartans however was receiver and outside linebacker Malachi Coleman, who’s recruiting ranking continued to skyrocket throughout last season and has peaked with a four star ranking. With interest drummed up due to Coleman’s star power, Kearney and Lincoln East were excited to bring a great showcase of high school football to Lincoln on Thursday night.
Kearney kicked off to begin the contest with Lincoln East trotting out senior quarterback Harrison Biester to open the game. Biester and the Spartans were unsuccessful in generating a first down as Kearney linebacker Ethan Kowalek made a terrific pass breakup to force a three-and-out. A punt then sent Kearney in good field position at their own 47 yard line. The Bearcats were unable to capitalize on their first drive as their senior – Treyven Beckman – received his second varsity start on the season and led a three-and-out.
Lincoln East and Kearney would trade punts throughout the first quarter, but Beckman would force a throw over the middle on the Bearcats’ second drive of the contest looking for senior tight end Hudson Bertrand instead giving the ball away to East’s Andres Zuniga on the interception. East would be unable to advance past midfield on the ensuing drive, and both teams continued their chess match into the second quarter. A scoreless tie held heading into the second period.
Kearney would throw another interception after a big return by junior Zander Reuling setting the Bearcats inside the Lincoln East 25 yard line. The pick thrown by Beckman came as the second turnover for Kearney as the Spartans’ Will Potratz read the miscue to collect the interception. East would be forced to punt on their next possession.
Still scoreless in the middle of the second quarter, Kearney became determined by any means necessary to find a path to the endzone. The Bearcats began at their own 41 yard line and trotted a 9 play, 59 yard scoring drive that included big runs by sophomore Sawyer Schilke and pass plays to Reuling. The drive was capped by a six yard scoring toss from Beckman to Reuling on an inside slant as Kearney struck first, leading 7-0 with 2:32 remaining in the second.
Lincoln East would force a ten play drive with replacement sophomore quarterback Jeter Worthley – a Michigan baseball commit – that generated some movement but ended with a Hail Mary attempt intercepted by Kearney’s Bertrand. Kearney led into halftime 7-0.
KHS @ LE // KGFW Sports
After an extended halftime, East kicked off back to Kearney beginning at the Bearcat 20 yard line. With the lead by one score, Kearney began to play conservatively and await an opportunity for a big strike. After seven plays including an eight yard completion and eleven yard run, Kearney would punt again giving East the ball at their own 35 yard line.
In one play, the game dynamic flipped entirely as junior Dash Bauman for the Spartans bolted off the right side of the offensive line and burst for a 65 yard touchdown run on the first play of the drive. The point after attempt would be stuffed by Kearney’s Justin Murray, maintaining Kearney’s lead at 7-6 with 8:51 left in the third quarter.
Kearney would proceed down the field after a big throw to senior Jack Dahlgren for 31 yards, but another Bearcat punt by Ben Cumpston pinned Lincoln East down on their own one yard line. Worthley was unable to escape the shadow of the goalposts and a three-and-out ensued again. After a Kearney three-and-out, the Spartans were once again pinned on their own 2 yard line.
Lincoln East did draw away from their own goaline, proceeding down the field on a 10 play drive that ended in a punt and settled into the fourth quarter with Kearney in the lead 7-6.
The Bearcats big play finally came through as Kearney’s Kowalek found daylight on a stretch play to the far sideline, rumbling past would-be-tacklers for a 69 yard touchdown run that set Kearney up with a 14-6 lead with 9:50 remaining in the contest.
Lincoln East would hit a big pass to start their ensuing drive but would fumble away a chance to tie the game as Cumpston recovered the loose ball and gave possession back to Kearney. The Bearcats began to chew clock and slow the game, as a three-and-out came once again forcing a punt.
With the ball at the Lincoln East 49 yard line, Worthley would continually roll out of the pocket electing to find receivers downfield for big play strikes. A 30 yard pass set up East in Kearney territory, but a short run and a penalty off an illegal shift brought the Spartans to second down. Murray chased, corralled, and sacked Worthley on the next play as Kearney would then survive an offensive pass interference call against East’s Coleman and would regain possession on the turnover on downs.
Kearney continued to milk the clock away as East’s last gasps on offense continually fell short, and Kearney won the bruising contest 14-6.
The Bearcats improve to 1-0 on the season and have eight days to recover and reset for their first home game of the season against Fremont on Sept. 2. Lincoln East licks their wounds and will prepare for Lincoln Southeast next week.
Hear the Kearney High and Fremont contest on KGFW next Friday with the High School Preview Show beginning coverage at 6 PM, followed by the KGFW Pregame Show at 6:30 PM, and kickoff at 7 PM.
