Wyatt Ehlers (22) picks up the football and races for the endzone as Caleb Cast (57) and Jack Hirschfeld (3) trail the play for Centennial Nov. 9.
Last year, it was all new. The first time playing in the state championship game. The first time playing at Memorial Stadium.
This year, it’s familiar.
“We’ve been there before,” Jack Hirschfeld said. “It’s not as new to us. But it’s still special. This is our last ride together because we’re seniors.”
“Last year was more unexpected,” Wyatt Ehlers added. “Everyone was super excited. This year we have a bigger goal.”
The Broncos will play Norfolk Catholic Tuesday, Nov. 20, at 10:15 a.m. in the Class C2 final at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln.
Hirschfeld and Ehlers are the captains for Centennial’s 2018 football team. Ehlers is the quarterback, and Hirschfeld is a wide receiver.
The two were members of last year’s state runner-up team, as well. Both said this year’s team has a different personality.
“This is the closest team I’ve ever been on,” Hirschfeld said. “I’ve never seen guys that play for each other like this. In the BRLD game (when Centennial trailed late), there was no doubt. We trust each other.”
Ehlers agreed.
“It’s been awesome,” he said. “There’s so much potential. It’s our family versus their team. We fight like a family sometimes, but you know the next day, your brother will be there to pick you up.”
He said the team is more balanced, and everyone works hard.
“The skill players work their butts off. The line is amazing,” he said.
He said the team has improved week by week and day by day.
“It’s one snap at a time,” he said.
As captains, the two try to lead by example.
“We’re the guys they look at,” Hirschfeld said.
“We have to stay level headed,” Ehlers said. “The coaches tell us the highs will be high and the lows will be low. We have to be the middle man, and our effort will trickle down.”
Ehlers said the Broncos have played a couple complete games this season, listing Aquinas and Sutton.
“Last week we played better,” he said. “The only way to go is up.”
He said no one gets enough credit for their work, from the coaches to the scout team.
“Everyone cares so much,” he said. “We want to send them off right.”
The two have their pre-game routines down to a science. Every game, Hirschfeld tells his teammates the same thing.
“There’s no other group I want to go play with,” he says.
Ehlers reminds them to stay in control and stay true to what’s been coached. He has a personal routine, too, Hirschfeld said.
“It really bothers Wyatt when things are different,” he said with a grin that Ehlers answered. “He has the same socks, the same lunch. He prepares the same way every week.”
As a whole, though, the team doesn’t have much in the way of superstitions. Ian Schlueter wears a sweatshirt every Tuesday. Elijah Wiezorek wears weird socks. But that’s about it, they said.
Ehlers said his favorite play of the season came early on – in week three against Battle Creek. He said Coach Evan Klanecky had been talking about taking a shot early.
“On the second play, I threw a bomb to Jack,” Ehlers said. “That was pretty special.”
He listed the last touchdown against BRLD and a touchdown pass against Aquinas as favorite moments, too.
For Hirschfeld, his favorite play was Ehlers’s touchdown pass to Max Tomes against Oakland-Craig and a pancake block he made in the end zone against Shelby-Rising City.
Both have brothers on the sideline this year. Alex Hirschfeld is a seventh grader, and Sam Ehlers is a sixth grader.
“The best is when they celebrate,” Jack Hirschfeld said. “You can see it on the film.”
Ehlers and Hirschfeld said the season and their careers have been a journey.
“Since we played in the back yard,” Hirschfeld said.
They remembered creating their own playbook, although they don’t know what happened to it. They said the trees on one side of Hirschfeld’s yard served as the crowd they were playing in front of.
“No one wants it to end,” Ehlers said. “It’s only OK to end on a win.”
“We’re lucky we get to end the way we do,” Hirschfeld added.
The team has a bit of a chip on its shoulder, though.
“We haven’t lost all year and we’re still the underdog,” Hirschfeld said. “No one gives us a chance. We’ve heard about it all year.”
“That feels like a huge motivator,” Ehlers said.
“I can’t wait,” Hirschfeld said. “All the support is special, and to get to play for Centennial one more time - I love this community.”
“I agree 100 percent,” Ehlers said.
