Nesmith's 3 TDs not enough as Doane Wins
Hastings, NE - Miscues and short fields turned Saturday afternoon into a frustrating one for the Hastings College football team falling to Doane 52-37 on Homecoming.
After Doane took a 7-0 lead, the Bronco offense would put together a steady 11-play 75 yard drive and would be capped off when Jesse Ulrich (SO/Ord, NE) would find Brenton Bell (JR/San Diego, CA) as he tight ropped the sideline into the end zone to tie the game 7-7.
After the defense forced a three-and-out, the Broncos used a couple of big plays through the air as Ulrich connected with Luke Fairbanks (SO/Wahoo, NE) for 16 yards and then he found Bell for 26 yards down to the Tiger 3-yard line. Two plays later, Tyree Nesmith (SR/Baltimore, MD) plunged into the end zone as the Broncos now led 14-7 late in the first quarter.
That lead would be short lived when QB Adam Wasserman scrambled finding room on the far sideline for the 30-yard touchdown to tie the game 14-14 with only 38 seconds to go in the first quarter.
And just like that, the Bronco offense would go quiet in the second quarter. Also turnovers began to give momentum to Doane beginning with a Ulrich fumble that would be recovered at the Hastings 27 and two plays later, the Tigers took a 21-14 lead.
On Hastings' next possession, Ulrich would get picked off setting up another short field for Doane but the Bronco defense was up to the task holding Doane to a 41-yard field goal that Robert Hernandez (SR/Salinas, CA) got a hand on to keep the score 21-14 midway through the second quarter.
Neither team really threatened for the rest of the half until Hastings was pinned deep and forced to punt from its own end zone with under a minute to play in the half. But Jason Bachle (SO/Grand Island, NE) unloaded a 57-yard punt with Koby Brandenburg (SO/Central City, NE) making a great tackle at the Doane 40 eliminating the threat.
To start the second half, the Hastings defense forced a three-and-out letting the offense go right to work. Making some halftime adjustments, the Broncos marched 63-yards capped off by a Nesmith 16-yard touchdown run tying the game 21-21 early in the third quarter.
Then disaster struck on third-and-nine when Jamaine Derogene broke free for a 75-yard touchdown run putting the Tigers back in front 28-21. On the ensuing kick-off, Doane recovered a fumble and one play later was up 35-21 midway through the third quarter.
After the teams traded punts, Hastings appeared to catch a break when it appeared Keiotey Stenhouse (SR/Pacoima, CA) was interfered with in the end zone and a flag was thrown. But it was later picked up to the dismay of the Bronco faithful. Bachle then connected on a 45-yard field goal bringing Hastings within 11 at 35-24.
After the defense held the Tiger offense, the Bronco offense went back to work marching 40-yards in eight plays highlighted by Nesmith's third rushing touchdown of the game. After failing to make the two-point conversion, Hastings trailed 35-30 with 14:59 left to play in the fourth.
Unfortunately for Hastings, this would be as close as they would get as the Tiger rushing attack took over in the fourth quarter opening up a 52-30 lead before taking the game 52-37.
Nesmith finished the day with 77 yards on 17 carries with three touchdowns. Brett Simonsen (SO/Sutton, NE) added 54 yards on 18 carries.
Ulrich finished the game 16-for-31 for 173 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.
Derogene led Doane with 154 yards on 10 carries and three touchdowns.
Tydus Clay (JR/Conroe, TX) along with Sevon Roberson (SO/Houston, TX) led the way with nine total tackles each. Clay added 1.5 tackles for loss while Roberson had an assisted tackle for loss.
Doane finished the game with 422 total yards to 398 for Hastings.
The Broncos fall to 1-2 (1-2) on the year and will be back in action Saturday Oct. 3 hitting the road to take on No. 1 Morningside with kick-off set for 1:00 p.m. in Sioux City, IA.
