Bronco Defense Sparks Win Over Midland
Fremont - The Bronco defense did plenty of bending against Midland on Saturday but came up with huge plays in the second half that led to the Hastings 48-28 victory at Heedum Field.
The Hastings defense began the game giving up touchdown drives of 96-yards, 88-yards, and 75-yards but came up with four huge game changing plays in the third quarter that swung momentum in favor of the Broncos.
Trailing 21-20 to begin the third quarter, Hastings came up with the first big play just two plays into the second half when Josh Johnson (SO/Mesquite, TX) picked off Zach Couey giving the Bronco offense great field position at the Warrior 22.
With Matt Overmiller (SR/Hastings, NE) getting knocked out of the game, Jason Gaines (SO/Papillion, NE) led the Broncos down and found Austin Curlee (JR/Round Rock, TX) from four yards out to give Hastings its first lead of the game at 27-21.
Midland began to move the ball once again on its next possession but Jordan Clancy (SO/Hastings, NE) would intercept Couey at the Hastings 23 and return it 37-yards into Midland territory. The offense would be unable to take advantage of this turning the ball over on downs.
The Bronco defense would then force a three and out and then block the ensuing punt setting up great field position once again for the Bronco offense which would take full advantage.
After taking the ball down to the Midland eight, Caleb Kuhfahl (SR/Wahoo, NE) finished the short drive off with an eight-yard run putting Hastings up 34-21 late in the third quarter.
The Hastings defense would step up again forcing a Warrior punt that traveled just eight yards to the Midland 37-yard line giving the Broncos a short field to work with which was the theme of the day for the Bronco offense.
Jake Fowler (SO/Hastings, NE) would do most of the dirty work carrying the ball five times on the drive including a two-yard touchdown run to make it 41-21 to end the third quarter as Hastings began to pull away.
Johnson began the fourth quarter just like the third quarter picking off Couey once again for his second of the game and his fourth of the season as Hastings began to salt the game away.
Midland began the game firing on all cylinders despite losing out on the field position battle in a big way.
The Warriors held Hastings to a three and out but Anthony Cloyd (FR/Omaha, NE) sent a 52-yard punt that put Midland back on its own four yard line.
That didn't seem to bother Midland marching 96-yards on 14-plays to take a 7-0 lead.
Hastings would get a Nick Giaffoglione (SO/Omaha, NE) field goal on its next possession to make it 7-3 as that drive began at the Midland 38.
After a penalty on the return, the Warriors were backed up to its own 12-yard line but went on a 11-play 88-yard drive to go up 14-3 with just over two minutes remaining in the first quarter.
The Hastings offense would then begin to click after Fowler returned the kick-off to midfield.
After Overmiller would find Fowler for 18-yards down to the Midland 34, Hastings would work down to the 19 before Overmiller would find Trevor Bohn (SR/Bennington, NE) for the score to make it 14-10.
After Midland went on another long drive to go up 21-10, Hastings would cut the deficit down to 21-20 at the break as the Bronco defense really began to assert themselves holding the Warriors to just seven more points for the rest of the game.
Fowler finished the game with 59-yards rushing and two touchdowns while Ramiro Flores added 67-yards on 20 carries and a score.
Tyler Harris led the Broncos with 13 tackles while Johnson finished with two interceptions.
Gaines went 11-for-17 for 131-yards and a score in relief of Overmiller as he also threw for a touchdown.
Hastings is now 4-3 (3-3) on the season and will be back in action Saturday Nov. 1 as Northwestern comes to town with kick-off set for 1:00 p.m. at Lloyd Wilson Field.
