KEARNEY – The game kicked off with a Bearcat interception and was punctuated with one, as Kearney controlled from start to finish in their regular season finale over Norfolk. The home team won 35-7 at Foster Field, cementing a home playoff stand for the Bearcats next week. Click here to listen to the broadcast replay.
Kearney entered the Week 9 matchup at 7-1 on the year and having dominated Lincoln Northeast with eight days of rest after the 55-0 victory at Seacrest Field. Norfolk was fighting for their playoff lives, having gone 5-3 leading into the contest with a chance to confirm their position Friday night.
The Bearcats would not give Norfolk any early momentum despite the Panthers controlling the first offensive possession. On a unusually warm October Friday night, Norfolk started out of the gate relying on their run-heavy offense. However, on their third offensive play, Kearney senior Karter Lee stepped in front of Panther quarterback CJ Hoffman’s pass to create the first turnover of the game.
Three plays later, Kearney muscled its way into the endzone from one yard out by Able Molina. The goal line approach was set by quarterback Griffin Novacek’s tough running, as the Bearcats led 7-0 with less than ten minutes to play in the opening quarter.
Kearney Football v. Norfolk // Rick Tucker Photography.
Norfolk would respond with a more methodical drive on their second possession, seven plays down field before the eighth play resulted in a sack – forcing a punt near midfield.
Kearney would be forced to punt on their next drive going only six plays.
As Norfolk was backed up to their own 21 yard line, The Panthers started their longest drive of the contest to that point. Mixing run and pass, Hoffman connected with several receivers on short routes to convert first downs and keep the Panthers on the field. A screen outlet to running back Rowdy Bauer set up a first down inside of the Kearney red zone. The Bearcats would flex defensively, creating a tackle for loss followed by a third down incompletion. The 43 yard field goal attempt would never make it to the endzone, as Norfolk remained scoreless in the second quarter.
Kearney began their third drive at their own twenty, proceeding nine plays down the field to create another score. Receiver Zander Reuling hauled in a first down reception, followed by a Novacek run to make second and one inside of Norfolk territory. Following a timeout, Able Molina would rumble for a conversion, while Eli Randolph moved the chains on the next play. Novacaek capped off the drive with a six yard touchdown option read, extending the Bearcat lead 14-0 with 4:13 remaining in the half.
Kearney Football v. Norfolk // Rick Tucker Photography.
Another Norfolk punt allowed Kearney to create a further gap between themselves and the Panthers, as Novacek worked the ball downfield using his arm. After a first down run, the sixth play of the drive ended on a beauty of a pass from the junior quarterback to Lee, extending on the back line of the endzone for a 22 yard touchdown reception. 21-0 Bearcats with forty seconds remaining.
Hudson Waldow of Norfolk rumbled for 23 yards on the first play of the drive for Norfolk, as the Panthers elected to continue to go for a score near the end of the half. That attempt would end in the hands of Molina for another interception, but Kearney would be unable to convert it to points missing a 51 yard field goal as the second quarter expired.
Kearney Football v. Norfolk // Rick Tucker Photography.
Into the third quarter, Kearney opened the period with an eight play drive going 85 yards down field for their fourth touchdown. Novacek capped the drive with a 16 yard touchdown run, extending the Bearcat lead 28-0.
Kaleb Larson put the game on ice from there, as the next Norfolk drive would result in a 70 yard interception return for a score by the senior safety. Larson would high point the ball inside his territory, follow the Bearcat convoy down the Kearney sideline, and score to ice the game for the home team leading 35-0 with 6:10 remaining.
Norfolk would score off an eleven yard run by Bauer near the end of the third, but Kearney never gave Norfolk a chance to get back milking nearly six minutes off the fourth quarter clock on their twelve play drive.
One final Panther possession ended on a turnover on downs, as Kearney celebrated their Senior Night triumph in their victory formation.
The Bearcats (8-1, 3-1) end as the A-3 District Runner-Up and will host at Foster Field next week to open the first round of the Class A Playoffs.
Norfolk (5-4, 2-2) awaits their playoff destination with the loss.
Seedings and matchups will officially be determined on Saturday morning by the NSAA.
KGFW UNOFFICIAL KEARNEY STATS:
PASSING: Griffin Novacek – 9/12, 99 passing yards, 1 TD
RUSHING: 38 carries, 232 rushing yards, 4 TD
Able Molina: 8 Carries, 95 yards, 1 TD
Griffin Novacek: 13 carries, 82 yards, 2 TD
Eli Randolph: 12 carries, 48 yards
Sam Nachtigal: 3 carries, 13 yards
RECEIVING:
Zander Reuling: 4 receptions, 57 yards
Karter Lee: 3 receptions, 32 yards, 1 TD
Eli Randolph: 1 reception, 6 yards
Zaire LaGrone-Miller: 1 reception, 4 yards
Ian Piper, Kearney High School Football v. Norfolk 2023 // Mitchell Brandt
