BELLEVUE – A tale as old time: Kearney Football matches up with a Top Five Bellevue West squad, upsetting the Thunderbirds on their home turf by a single point. As Bearcat Head Coach Brandon Cool regularly says to his team, “You only have to win by one.” The Bearcats did so on Thursday night, forcing five turnovers and hitting four pass plays of over sixty yards to down Bellevue West 35-34 to move to 4-0 on the season. Click here to listen to the broadcast replay.
The Bearcats entered the contest at 3-0 having won twice on Thursday nights at Seacrest Field – first in Week 1 against Lincoln East (14-6) and last week over Lincoln North Star (34-7). Meanwhile Bellevue West was hungry to get back to their winning ways, having dropped their pivotal matchup with Omaha Westside on Friday night the previous week to fall to 3-1 on the season.
The Thunderbirds entered the contest with the leading passer in Class A and well-known commodity Daniel Kaelin. Kaelin’s favorite targets – Dae’Vonn Hall, Isaiah McMorris, and Kyrell Jordan – were all leading receiving categories across the state. The high-flying attack under Head Coach Michael Huffman looked to get cooking early and often against Kearney. However, a stern wind coming from the south at 35 mph at kickoff altered both teams’ plans throughout the contest.
The Bearcats won the coin toss and deferred to the second half, allowing the Thunderbird offense possession to open the game. As West moved six plays down the field quickly, Kearney’s Zander Reuling dove on a tipped pass to intercept the third pass attempt by Kaelin and give Kearney possession. The Bearcats rumbled for a first down on the first run of the contest, but did not find any future success as they were forced to punt.
After five plays including a sack off a bobbled snap by Bellevue West, another punt ensued. Kearney earned possession at their own 24 yard line, and after a negative running play hit it big for their first strike through the skies. Quarterback Treyven Beckman found junior receiver Karter Lee streaking down the field, breaking away from the defense for a 79 yard touchdown reception that put Kearney up 7-0 with 4:33 remaining in the first quarter.
Bellevue West began their next drive slowly working the ball down the field. With a steady mix of run and pass plays while also converting several third and long’s, West moved 12 plays into the second quarter to inevitably turn over on downs after a fourth down reception was not far enough to move the chains in Kearney territory. The Bearcats led after the first quarter 7-0.
Bearcat FB @ BW // KGFW Sports
The second quarter switched sides of the field, as Kearney no longer had the wind to their backs. After a three-and-out by Kearney, Bellevue West used a short punt to set up their first score on a 7 play, 31 yard scoring drive that ended with a touchdown run by CJ Gauff to tie the game at 8:07 left in the second quarter at seven each.
Kearney’s offense sputtered again, going three-and-out and Bellevue West’s offense taking advantage of the opportunity. With another short field, West used 10 plays – including a facemask penalty that would have created a fourth down – to go 39 yards and score on a four yard touchdown run by Gio Contreras. West had their first lead of the contest with 4:02 left in the second quarter up 14-7.
The Bearcat offense never flinched, and in three plays tied the game themselves. On third and six from their own 24 yard line, Beckman dropped back to loft a dart to the seam, finding senior tight end Ben Cumpston on the other end as Cumpston escaped the defense for a 76 yard touchdown catch-and-run. 14 all with 3:07 remaining.
Offense began cooking with fireworks as Bellevue West dumped the ball to Millard North transfer Isaiah McMorris who eluded multiple defenders on a one play, 75 yard catch and run of the Thunderbirds’ own to lead 21-14 with 2:50 remaining in the half.
Kearney would go three-and-out on their next drive, force a fumble by Bellevue West, then throw an interception to end the first half trailing 21-14.
The Bearcats trailed by seven and came out moving methodically down the field, but a 9 play drive ended with a punt by Jake Kracl in place of the injured Cumpston who was unavailable through the rest of the contest. West would fumble their snap multiple times on their next drive, resulting in a punt after 9 plays of their own. Kearney’s next possession: another three-and-out.
Bellevue West was set-up after the short punt inside of Kearney’s 19 yard line, but the first play of the possession resulted in another turnover. This time, a strip fumble by the Bearcats who pounced on the ball. After another three-and-out however, Bellevue West used another short field to score on a three-play, eleven yard drive ending with a three yard touchdown run by Contreras. West led 28-14 with 1:24 remaining in the third.
As the third quarter shifted to the fourth, Kearney opened the fourth quarter with a monumental drive down the field to score on a four yard power run by senior Ethan Kowalek to cut the lead 28-21 with 10:35 remaining.
Bearcat FB @ BW // KGFW Sports
Bellevue West would then cough the ball up again for another fumble on their fourth play of the drive, as Kearney slowly worked down the field to produce a 71 yard 8 play scoring drive capped by a Beckman touchdown run from one yard out. Tied at 28, 6:30 remained in the contest.
Bellevue West would then give the ball up again on their next drive, as Kearney could not do much better having to punt after only six plays. What happened next led to another thrilling finish in Bellevue.
Bearcat FB @ BW // KGFW Sports
Receiving the ball at their own 20 yard line, West moved fast in four plays to score off a big run to kick off the drive, a short pass followed by another first down, and ending with a 25 yard touchdown toss from Kaelin to Jordan to take the lead 34-28. The Bearcats’ special teams stepped up, as Reuling made another play blocking the PAT to keep the lead at six and setup a potential game winning drive for Kearney.
After a short pass for no gain and a false start, Kearney dialed up their playmaker one more time. Reuling still had plenty in the tank, zooming down the seam and racing past defenders for a 69 yard touchdown reception to tie the game. Kracl’s crucial extra point rang true, and the Bearcats took the 35-34 lead with 40 seconds remaining.
The first play for Bellevue West looked promising to start their march down the field as Kaelin hit a receiver over the middle for a substantial gain, but Bearcat defenders rallied to the football, stripping the receiver and creating the fifth turnover of the matchup to take over inside of Bellevue West territory at their 36 yard line.
West used their timeouts and forced a turnover on downs, but the final last-ditch effort fell short as Kearney upset the Thunderbirds on their homecoming night 35-34.
Bearcats @ BW // KGFW Sports
Kearney saw contributions from Beckman who went 14 of 23 for 337 yards and three touchdowns through the air while adding a rushing score. Eli Randolph and Kowalek led the way for the rushing attack, adding 59 and 48 respectively. Kowalek also added 29 yards receiving as well. Reuling finished with 116 yards receiving on three catches, Lee had 2 for 109, and Cumpston finished with 3 for 79.
The Bearcats begin district play next Friday battling North Platte in their return to Ron and Carol Cope Stadium.
