Turnovers Prove Costly as Chargers Defeat Broncos
Hastings, NE - The Hastings College football team could not capitalize on its opportunities falling to Briar Cliff 27-18 on Saturday on Lloyd Wilson Field.
After both teams traded punts to start the game, Briar Cliff was facing a third-and-12 when Cayden Mitchell connected with Kreggor Clark for a 43-yard touchdown to take the early 7-0 lead.
The teams would once again trade punts and the Broncos would take advantage of a short field as John Zamora (SO/San Antonio, TX ) connected with Keiotey Stenhouse (SR/Pacoima, CA) for 18-yards to the Briar Cliff 29. The drive would eventually stall at the BCU 19 bringing on Jason Bachle (SO/Grand Island, NE) as he connected on a 36-yard field goal to make it 7-3 early in the second quarter.
On the ensuing possession, BCU marched 62-yards in six plays to take a 14-3 lead.
Momentum began to shift when Koby Brandenburg (SO/Central City, NE) recovered a fumble at the Charger 18 and just two plays later, Zamora hit Stenhouse for the 17-yard touchdown to make it 14-10.
On the ensuing kick-off, Bachle placed a perfect pooch kick that Kaeden Markham (JR/McKinney, TX) pounced on at the Briar Cliff 40. Unfortunately the Broncos would not be able to capitalize and would be forced to punt.
The game would remain at 14-10 late into the third when Hastings was driving until disaster struck when Zamora was intercepted at the Charger 16 and returned it to the Bronco 26. Two plays later, BCU scored on a King Waller 25-yard touchdown to make it 21-10 with 2:39 to go in the third quarter.
With 11:00 to go in the fourth, Hastings needed to make something happen before time began to run out. Zamora and his wideouts did just that marching 79 yards in 11 plays. First Zamora connected with John Austin (FR/St. Joseph, MO) for 11 yards. Two plays later, Zamora found Stenhouse on third-and-10 for 14 yards and a first down. Zamora continued the drive with completions to Brett Simonsen (SO/Sutton, NE), Austin, Sam Marsh (JR/Casper, WY) and Austin again taking the ball down to the BCU seven before Simonsen bulled his way into the endzone. Zamora connected with Austin for the two-point conversion to make it 21-18 with roughly 9:00 to play.
The Bronco defense would do its job forcing a Charger punt but on third-and-one, Zamora would get picked off by Robert Robinson as he took it 45-yards for the touchdown and the 27-18 lead following the missed extra point.
Eventually time ran out on the Broncos as Briar Cliff came away with the win.
Zamora finished the game 27-for-47 for 240 yards and a touchdown. He did throw two interceptions.
Hastings struggled to get the ground game going rushing 34 times for 89 yards. Simonsen led Hastings with 39 yards on eight carries and one touchdown.
Austin finished with career highs in receptions (8) and yards (98) while Stenhouse pulled in seven catches for 80 yards and a score.
The Bronco defense played well giving up just 244 yards of offense. Paxton Terry (SO/McCook, NE) finished with a career high 13 total tackles to go along with his 1.5 tackles for loss. Max Ruppert (JR/Highlands Ranch, CO) added eight total tackles while Tydus Clay (JR/Conroe, TX) finished with seven total tackles including a career high 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack and two forced fumbles. Koby Brandenburg took advantage of his first start recording five total tackles, a fumble recovery and an interception, both of which are firsts for his career.
Hastings falls to 1-4 (1-4) on the year and will be back in action Saturday Oct. 31 hitting the road to take on Jamestown with kick-off set for 1:00 p.m. in Jamestown, ND.
