Football Loses Defensive Battle to Midland 14-10
Fremont, NE – It was a defensive struggle between the Hastings College football team and Midland on Saturday afternoon as the Broncos dropped a hard-fought battle 14-10.
Fremont, NE – It was a defensive struggle between the Hastings College football team and Midland on Saturday afternoon as the Broncos dropped a hard-fought battle 14-10.
After the Warriors took its opening drive 59 yards for a touchdown, the Bronco defense allowed just 35 more yards for the rest of the first half.
With the defense playing extremely well, it allowed the Bronco offense to go to work and did put together a solid drive with just under 5:30 to go in the first quarter. It started with a 24 yard burst from Brett Simonsen. Later on the drive, John Zamora picked up a run of 11 yards down to the Midland 28 and then a 14 yard run from Simonsen to Hastings in a first down situation at the Midland 14.
Hastings got the ball down to the five and decided to go for it but would get stopped on a Simonsen rush turning the ball over on downs.
Early in the second quarter, the Bronco offense was moving the ball in plus territory but on a third and 10 at the Warrior 27, Zamora would get picked off just outside the end zone by Tayver Thornbru ending the threat.
On the ensuing possession, Midland started to move the ball and had it down to the Hastings 39 but Chris Paitz stepped in front of the Garrison Beach pass picking it off and giving the Bronco offense another change. All it took was one play as Zamora hit Toryian Tubbs for a 62-yard touchdown to tie things up 7-7 with 9:20 to go in the second quarter.
The Bronco defense would go right to work to start the third as Midland faced a third and six where Beach faced some pressure and was picked off by Mason Catterson as he returned it to the Warrior 22 giving the Hastings offense great field position.
Unfortunately, the Bronco offense would only gain three yards as Jason Bachle connected on a 35-yard field goal giving Hastings the 10-7 lead early in the third. The Bronco defense looked like it was beginning to consistently cause Midland fits as on the next possession Tyler Pawloski picked off Beach at the Midland 39 but an illegal hands to the face penalty negated the pick.
Neither offense was able to move the ball during the third period and it was Midland that put together a 51-yard drive where Midland converted on a fourth and five and two plays later, Beach found Kalynd Coats for the 30-yard touchdown and the 14-10 lead.
The Broncos were unable to get into plus territory for the rest of the fourth as HC fell 14-10.
Hastings finished the game with 200 yards of offense and the Bronco defense held Midland to just 191 yards of offense.
Beasley Ihegworo led the Bronco defense with 10 total tackles and half a tackle for loss. Catterson and Paitz each had a pick while Caden Egr led the way with three pass breakups.
The last time the Broncos gave up less than 100 yards passing was a 31-3 victory over Jamestown back on Aug. 26, 2017 when they held the Jimmies to just 65 yards passing. Midland had just 74 yards through the air in this one.
Hastings is now 1-1 (0-1) on the year and will be back in action Saturday Sept. 10 as Mount Marty comes to town with kickoff set for 1:00 pm on Lloyd Wilson Field.
