With Beatrice coming to town for a Class B football clash, Seward Coach Jamie Opfer knew the Bluejays would be in for a battle.
He was not wrong.
The Jays scored with nine seconds left to top the Orangemen 28-26.
“It was a great game, down to the wire,” Opfer said.
Beatrice scored on a four-yard run with 1:36 to play. The conversion failed, but the Orange held a 26-21 lead.
Seward fielded the kickoff at its own 40. Two consecutive penalties pushed the Jays back to their own 29, but a pass interference penalty against BHS moved the ball to the 44.
Gavin Sukup found Christian Fields for a nine-yard gain and then picked up five on a run. After a sack, Sukup and Fields connected twice more for 14 yards and for nine yards, putting the ball at the Beatrice 22.
Sukup picked up 12 yards on the next play for a first down at the 10. On second down, Sukup found Micah Hackbart for a 10-yard touchdown and a 27-26 lead. Parker Hammond made the PAT to push the lead to two with nine seconds to play.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been part of a game where we scored so late to win,” Opfer said.
Hackbart finished the game with three catches for 81 yards and two touchdowns.
“Micah had a great game,” Opfer said. “We needed him and he showed up.”
Sukup completed 17 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 89 yards and scored twice.
Opfer said some of the athletes are working through injuries but they still kept competing.
“It’s important to them. They care about football and winning,” Opfer said. “Credit to the team and the guys.”
Seward (6-1) will host York Friday, Oct. 15, at 7 p.m.
“They are a blue collar, hard-nosed, disciplined team,” Opfer said. “We will have our hands full.”
