Championship Season Still a GREAT Success
Community and Team are Big Winners!
First and foremost this championship game, this 2013 season, this chance to gather together and follow a hard-working driven group of young men was a victory. The 20-18 loss to Exeter-Milligan on the scoreboard pales in comparison to all of the good will, the community cohesiveness, and the spirit of the Bobcat that was enhanced.
Much of Nebraska may not have even known about Hemingford, where we are, what we are, who we are – but they got a glimpse during the past thirteen weeks.
These weren’t just fair weather fans. They supported the Cats with their hearts !
Juniors Matthew Wood, #5, Ethan Skinner #45, Brady Turek #21, and Colt Foster #80 were part of a resurgent Hemingford program that has blossomed during the past few years.
Stalwart Senior Kyla Kaman, #9 was a defensive force and the team’s punter.
Togetherness, focus, respect, and a grown-up bunch of young men made this season special.
The Cats ran out to an 18-0 lead that lasted until the last two plays of the first half, when Exeter-Milligan managed to score by breaking tackles and picking up a loose ball for a touchdown and a two-point conversion to trail 8-18 at half.
The Cats played on, pounding ball carriers on the Memorial Stadium turf.
The fans numbered near two thousand strong, making the 440 mile trek to the Capital city.
Every inch was important, and first downs came hard.
The Cats continued to make the Timber Wolves pay a price for every gain.
Skinner runs through #10 of E-M, a solid tackler on defense, and an elusive quarterback on offense that hurt the Bobcats with his ability to get out of trouble.
The greatest fans in all of Nebraska outnumbered the home-team fans by two or three to one, and made enough noise to rival a Saturday Husker crowd.
Defense was the name of the game for this Championship bout.
Cat Coach Jordan Haas and his players have tasted defeat just twice in the past two years, while winning 22 games!
There was a mixture of Freshmen, Sophs, and Juniors to go with Hemingford’s three outstanding Seniors, #26 Trevor Benge, #40 Blake Hansen, and #9 Kyle Kaman.
Hemingford continually fought their way into the Exeter-Milligan backfield during the game.
#45 Skinner went over 2,000 rushing yards in the game, and #40 Blake Hansen added to his 200 Tackle total for the year.
The Cats played hard all season with many two-way performers.
Hemingford failed to back down against the E-M triple Option.
Gang-tackling has become a tradition at HHS.
#52 Asa Carlson was an outstanding lineman for HHS this season.
#5 Matthew Wood grew into his leadership role on the team, passing and running with confidence this year, and picking off several passes when he played defense.
The Cats played eight regular season games in 2013, as well as five playoff games, winning 12. No other Hemingford team has played, or won so many.
#52 Carlson returns for 2014, though #26 Benge will be missed.
#40 Blake Hansen , a senior has been a strong leader for the Cats, helping to protect #5 Wood, and serving as a teacher for young players like #56 Tanner Benge, a sophomore.
Try as they did, the Bobcat defense had a few lapses on “D”, with two passes going for touchdowns by the Timber Wolves.
The two teams were matched up very well. Exeter-Milligan also played in last-year’s final, finishing second in 2012.
Early on the Cats struck for touchdowns after three Timber Wolf turnovers.
#45 Ethan Skinner is shown finding the south endzone in the second quarter.
#5 Wood was able to scramble for a few late first downs for the Cats.
One that got away. The Cats nearly had a sack, but instead the ball went for a long touchdown to #82.
But comeback the Cats did, trailing 18-20, they nearly drove the length of the field with under two minutes left.
Unfortunately a pass interception gave the ball back to Exeter-Milligan. #21 Brady Turek helps make the stop.
#26 Benge and #21 Turek again stop the E-M ball carrier late in the game.
The Cats had one last chance after a fumble recovery with under a minute left.
The Cats gained two first downs in a row, moving from mid-field as time counted down.
Turek took on the entire pack of Timber Wolves, but showed his drive and desire to win the game.
#40 Hansen and #26 Benge make their last few blocks as a Bobcat for #45 Skinner. The Cats tried a pass to Foster to win the game at the end from the Timber Wolf 16 yard line, but the ball was picked off, ending the Championship with Hemingford two points short (20-18).
Again, this season was a great victory for our community, for our kids, for the players, the coaches, the moms and dads, the grandparents and many others around the panhandle. There were many Cat fans and alumni that listened in on the internet or watched on TV.
They and all of us want to say thanks to our bus drivers, our sponsors, our home chain crew, crow’s nest, our EMT crew, our American Legion Color Guard, Our band, our cheerleaders, and our faculty and community for the HUGE support.
We will remember – and we will BE BACK.