The 2022 football season didn’t end the way the Seward Bluejays wanted it to.
The Jays were at York Oct. 28 for the first round of the Class B playoffs. A 10-minute drive by the Dukes to start the third quarter ended in a touchdown, and the Jays couldn’t recover momentum, losing 21-7.
“They have big guys up front, and when they commit to the run, they’re tough to stop,” SHS Coach Jamie Opfer said. “We were doing everything we could, but we couldn’t get the stops we needed.”
The game started well for the Jays. After intercepting a York pass, the Jays needed three plays to score. Kalen Knott carried three times for 65 yards, including the final 12 for a touchdown. Nolan Hill’s point-after made the SHS lead 7-0 with 4:38 to play in the first quarter.
“Early on we had a formation we liked and thought would be successful,” Opfer said. “They adjusted to that.”
York tied the score with six seconds to play in the half and then got the ball to start the third quarter.
The Dukes finished the scoring with 8:35 to play in the fourth on a 1-yard run.
Opfer said the Jays were not efficient on third down throughout the game, only converting one of six attempts.
“I felt good about our effort and out fight,” he said. “It just wasn’t our night.”
Knott led the offense with 74 yards rushing and completed eight of 10 passes for 66 yards.
On defense, he had seven solo tackles and six assists. Hill added six solo stops and 11 assists.
Seward will graduate 13 seniors, and Opfer said they are a good group of athletes.
“They’re good football players but better people,” he said. “It’s been a blessing to coach them.”
He encouraged the underclassmen to get in the weight room and to be involved in other activities during the offseason.
“We are other sports’ biggest fans,” Opfer said. “We want them to be well-rounded people.”
