Broncos Win Finale in the Snow Over NWU
Hastings - It was like when you were a kid out playing football in the snow on Saturday at Lloyd Wilson Field as the Hastings College football team out lasted Nebraska Wesleyan 31-24 to wrap up the season.
After the Prairie Wolves tied the game 24-24, the Broncos were in need of a big play.
Jason Gaines (SO/Papillion, NE) would be the guy to come up with the play but not with his arm. Hastings had the ball 3rd and one on the NWU 37 when Gaines would break free around the left side and then cut back across the field finding his way to the end zone for the touchdown.
Gaines talked about that big run, "It was 3rd and short as I just knew I needed to come up with a play and there was an opening," Gaines continued. "I hit it and made the cut back and managed to make it to the end zone."
Head Coach Tony Harper talked about the excitement Gaines showed when he scored, "Did you see him get excited when he scored that touchdown," Harper said. "I don't know what was going on with all those gyrations but he was excited and the guys were excited with him."
That score put the Broncos up 31-24 with 2:10 remaining and the defense would come up with two defensive stands to seal the win for Hastings.
Things did not look good early on for the Broncos failing to score after a Jacob Tarr (FR/Chaparral, CO) interception giving the offense the ball at the NWU 26-yard line. That drive would be halted by a tip interception at the NWU 4-yard line.
After each team traded punts, the Prairie Wolves would mount a 73-yard drive scoring on a 2-yard rushing touchdown by Joel Wiedel to make it 6-0 with 4:10 to play in the first quarter.
Then on the Broncos next possession, Gaines would be pressured and his pass would get intercepted by Wes Boettcher as he would take it 39-yards for the touchdown and with the 2-point conversion NWU would lead 14-0 heading into the second quarter.
But special teams would come up big on the ensuing kick-off as Darvonte Knight (JR/Oklahoma City, OK) would take the kick and return it 58-yards to the NWU 23 and Hastings would take full advantage.
After moving the ball to the 15, Gaines would throw a back shoulder fade to Noah Housh (SO/Lincoln, NE) to cut the deficit in half at 14-7 with 14:28 remaining in the first half.
Both teams would then swap turnovers before the Broncos would get the ball back and go on a drive.
Gaines would pick up 23-yards on one carry and then would find Austin Curlee (JR/Round Rock, TX) across the middle for 20 more.
Then from the NWU 11-yard line, Gaines would see the match up against Housh and take full advantage throwing the same back shoulder fade as Housh made a spectacular one handed catch for the score to nod things up 14-14 with 5:47 remaining in the first half.
Housh talked about the match ups and confidence the offense has, "We know as a unit that we know we like our match ups on offense against anybody," Housh said. "We think that no matter who is across from us we can win."
The Broncos would waste no time taking the lead in the second half as Gaines would connect with Trevor Bohn (SR/Bennington, NE) for his third score of the game to make it 21-14 with 13:58 remaining in the third quarter.
Hastings looked poised to keep NWU off the board but early in the fourth quarter, Gaines would be pressured on a swing pass as he would fumble. NWU would recover at the Bronco eight yard line.
The Prairie Wolves would punch it in to tie things up 21-21 with 13:09 remaining.
Nick Giaffoglione (SO/Omaha, NE) would make a 41-yard field goal on the Broncos next possession as the ball bounced off the cross bar and then through for the 24-21 lead.
Hastings finished the day with 425 yards of offense to just 334 yards for Nebraska Wesleyan.
Gaines finished the night going 22-for-39 for 275 yards and three scores. He also rushed for 81 yards on 10 carries and a score.
Housh finished the day with six receptions for 60-yards and two scores.
Jordan Clancy (SO/Hastings, NE) led the defense with 10 tackles. Leuluai Io (SO/Parker, CO) led the team with 1.5 tackles for loss.
Hastings finishes the season 6-4 (5-4).
