It’s often tough to get through the homecoming distractions and just focus on the game.
The Seward Bluejays did that Sept. 15, defeating Hastings 26-14 and improving to 3-1 on the season.
“I’m really proud of the way the boys continue to play four quarters of football,” Coach Jamie Opfer said. “For the first time in the season we were able to take a lead early in the game, but sputtered a little bit in the third quarter.”
Neither team got off to a smooth start, with flags thrown on the first three plays of the game and three turnovers committed in the first quarter.
Despite that, Seward drew first blood on a four-yard touchdown pass from Tresten Hass to Cole Luebbe in the first quarter. Matthew Wegman made the point after for a 7-0 lead.
Hass found Jack Vyhnalek for a 20-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter. Wegman’s PAT made the lead 14-0 at halftime.
Vyhnalek finished with three catches for 56 yards.
“We were up 14-0 at the half and thought that if we put one more score on the board early we could really have an advantage,” Opfer said. “We were able to do that with a blocked punt early in the third quarter and finished with a touchdown.”
Opfer said Coach Joe Troester put the punt block in the Jays’ scheme this week and felt good about our chances.
Hastings didn’t give up, however, and scored 14 points to cut the lead to 21-14 in the fourth quarter.
Edison Knott stepped in front of a Hastings pass for an interception in the fourth quarter, and the Jays were back in business.
Hass finished the scoring with a two-yard touchdown run, but the two-point conversion attempt was no good.
Opfer said the offense was able to run the ball well at times, finishing with 141 yards on the ground.
The defense played well, digging in its heels in critical situations and keeping the Tigers out of the endzone, he said.
The game marked the return of senior receiver Reggie Sukup, who had been out with a broken collarbone.
“Reggie is a leader on our team, and it was big to have him back in action,” Opfer said.
Sukup had two catches for 12 yards.
Opfer said Josh Ringler, Caden Schadwinkel and Kohltyn Lindau had big games defensively to hold Hastings to 14 points.
The Jays will be on the road Friday, Sept. 22, at Gering. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Mountain Time, or 8 p.m. Central.
“It will be a long road trip, but we’re excited to see how much we can improve moving forward,” Opfer said.
