The Nemaha Central Middle School football team kicked off their last season game with the Rossville Bulldawgs on Thursday, October 17, 2024. Both teams had losing records with NC 0-6 and Rossville 1-5. Both teams were hoping to end the season with a win.
The game started with NC receiving the ball on the kickoff with only about a 15-yard gain, stopping on their 40-yard line. A few plays later, Brentlee Pfanenstiel caught the ball and ran for a 45-yard touchdown. The Thunder team did not complete the 2-point conversion but NC was on the board. NC kicked the football and the Dawgs only made it 10 yards before a storm of Thunder players made the tackle. A few plays later, the Dawgs turned over the ball on a fumble. NC then started progressing down the field as the quarter ended with a 6-0 Thunder lead.
The second quarter started with NC around the 30-yard line. A few plays after, Pfanenstiel caught a screen pass and ran it in for another Thunder touchdown. The team failed to complete the 2-point conversion. The Thunder kicked off and the Dawgs were eager to make something happen. A few plays later in the drive, the Dawgs ran it down the field 40 yards for a touchdown. They failed the 2-point conversion. They kicked off to the Thunder. After a few plays, an interception by the Dawgs landed them at the 25-yard line. A few plays after the interception the Dawgs ran it in for a touchdown, but were denied the 2-point conversion. They kicked the football off to NC, ending the half with the teams tied at 12-12.
To start the second half, the Dawgs kicked off and NC ran it to the 35-yard line. A few plays later, NC turned the ball over on downs. Rossville wasted no time on the next drive and ended up scoring and making the conversion to take the lead 20-12. The rest of the third quarter went back and forth with both teams handling the ball. Rossville scored near the end of the third quarter and completed the 2-point conversion. At the end of the quarter, Rossivelle was still on top, 28-12.
NC started the fourth quarter with the ball. They turned the ball over on downs. Rossville scored on the next drive but failed to complete the 2-point conversion, making the score 34-12. NC turned the ball over again on downs, and Rossville failed to score which led to the end of the game.
Tyson Beebe-Dishong, an eighth grader, said, “We had fun and played hard, and that’s all that matters.”
Evan Bletscher, a seventh grader, said, “ We all worked hard, but didn’t get the outcome we wanted.”
Although NC didn’t win a game this season, they learned to work hard and put in their best effort.
Article By: Aidan Henry and Bryce Weber