Wyatt Ehlers of Centennial delivers a pass to one of his receivers against Norfolk Catholic Nov. 20.
Centennial receiver Jack Hirschfeld makes a cut against the Norfolk Catholic defense Nov. 20 during the Class C2 championship game.
Wyatt Ehlers (22), Jack Hirschfeld (3) and their teammates celebrate a Bronco touchdown against Norfolk Catholic Nov. 20.
Centennial lineman Caleb Cast flies in to make a tackle against Norfolk Catholic Nov. 20.
Kalten Bauers of Centennial jumps to try to block a Norfolk Catholic pass Nov. 20.
Max Tomes of Centennial races to the endzone after intercepting a Norfolk Catholic pass Nov. 20.
Caleb Horne of Centennial keeps going despite the tackle attempt against Norfolk Catholic Nov. 20.
The Centennial defense took a different approach against Norfolk Catholic Nov. 20, waiting to move into position until the offense took its spots.
Wyatt Ehlers of Centennial can't escape the Norfolk Catholic defense on this play during the Class C2 championship game Nov. 20.
Coach Evan Klanecky lifts Wyatt Schoepf during the championship medal presentation Nov. 20.
No one in Memorial Stadium had any doubt of Coach Evan Klanecky’s decision.
Trailing by one in overtime, the Centennial coach was going for two.
Wyatt Ehlers tossed the two-point conversion to Jack Hirschfeld, and the championship celebration began.
The conversion came in overtime of the Class C2 championship football game Nov. 20. After no points in the first quarter, the Broncos cracked the scoreboard first on a 14-yard pass from Ehlers to Hirschfeld with 11:27 to play in the second quarter. CHS missed the point after to leave the score at 6-0.
The Knights scored on a 25-yard run with 7:20 to play in the second quarter and took the lead with the PAT. Norfolk Catholic extended its lead on a 6-yard run with 2:08 to play in the half. The PAT pushed the lead to 14-6, which was the score at halftime.
Max Tomes electrified the CHS crowd with a pick six early in the third quarter. Tomes intercepted the Norfolk Catholic pass and raced 43 yards to the endzone. Will Saunders made the PAT to cut the lead to 14-13 with 10:15 to go in the third.
Norfolk Catholic added to its lead with 1:53 to play in the third on a 7-yard pass. The PAT made the score 21-13.
Centennial tied the score early in the fourth quarter. Ehlers found Tomes for a 10-yard touchdown and then connected with Hirschfeld for the two-point conversion with 10:49 to play in regulation.
Norfolk Catholic put a drive together late in the fourth quarter, but a sack by Sid Farley forced the Knights to punt. The Broncos had a chance to win the game in regulation, but Ehlers’s scramble came up short of the endzone.
And then came overtime.
The Broncos chose to play defense first, and the Knights needed just two plays to find the endzone. The kick gave them a 28-21 lead.
Ehlers was held to no gain on first down and was sacked on second down to leave CHS with third and 17. On third down, he picked up 15 yards to set up fourth and goal at the 2. Ehlers found Hirschfeld who turned left into the endzone for six points. Klanecky chose to go for two, and the Ehlers to Hirschfeld connection finished the win.
The victory is the first football championship for the Broncos, who were the Class C2 runners-up last season. It also finished off an undefeated season for Centennial, which ended with a 13-0 record.
Ehlers finished the game completing 17 of 33 passes for 180 yards and three touchdowns. He also gained 154 yards on 22 carries. Hirschfeld was his favorite receiver, catching 11 balls for 119 yards and two touchdowns.
Statistics were pretty even between the No. 1 seeded Broncos and No. 3 seeded Knights. CHS had 19 first downs, gained 190 yards on the ground and passed for 180. Norfolk Catholic had 18 first downs, gained 193 yards on the ground and passed for 165 yards. Tomes’s interception was the game’s only turnover.
