By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Entering Saturday's Class 2A Football State Championship at Salina's USD 305 Municipal Stadium, Hoisington had scored at least 27 points in all 12 of its games this season. The Cardinals had scored at least 35 points in nine of those contests. But things were sure to be more difficult against reigning Nemaha Central, a team that allowed just six points in the first nine weeks of the 2023 campaign. Falling and accumulating snow did not help, either. Hoisington led 7-6 at the half but fell to the Thunder 28-14.
"It was tough condition-wise, but they were in it, too," said Hoisington coach Zach Baird. "We're definitely not going to make excuses. It still felt like we could throw it a little bit. We just didn't quite execute as well as you need to on this stage."
The name of the game was stopping Thunder sophomore Carter Hajek. The quarterback, playing behind a big offensive line, has accounted for virtually all of Nemaha's offense this year, including 49 of the squad's 52 touchdowns. He marched down the field on the first drive of the game, sapping six minutes off the clock before scoring from six yards out.
The defenses took over from there, combining to force four punts and a fumble. Cardinal junior Jason Robinson has been a defense hero all season but especially in the playoffs. He came up with his ninth interception of the season to set up a short field late in the half. Senior Tony Moore capped the 40-yard drive on a 4-yard touchdown run with 2:02 to play in the second quarter. Taylen Morales' PAT put Hoisington ahead 7-6 at the half - the only time the Thunder have trailed that late in a game all season.
The Cardinals had the opportunity to strike first in the second half but turned the ball over on downs. Hajek turned it up with a 33-yard run that eventually netted a 6-yard touchdown run. Hoisington lost its second fumble of the game on the next drive. Three plays later, Hajek broke a 49-yard run for a 20-7 lead with 4:38 remaining in the third.
Hajek accounted for 49 of his team's 51 carries in the game. He rushed for 266 yards and four scores, including three in the second half.
"I thought six was the difference in the game," Baird said. "We didn't tackle him every well. So give him credit. That's what these games are going to come down to is guys stepping up and making plays. Six was tough today."
The Cardinal defense did make a crucial stop late in the game but the offense stalled deep in its own territory. Trailing by two scores and the clock running shorter, Baird pushed the envelope but is team turned the ball over on downs at the 7-yard line. Hajek scored from a yard out four plays later.
Hoisington marched 67 yards down the field for the final points of the game. Those came on a 3-yard touchdown dive from Moore with 3:29 to play.
The Thunder defense did its job, holding Moore to just 47 yards on 6-of-15 passing. Moore was able to break free for 129 yards and both Cardinal scores on 16 carries. Teron Kraft, who had more than 1,100 rushing yards on the season, was held to just 25 yards on 15 carries. Mason Alderice ran the ball twice for 14 yards. Alderdice, Robinson, and Mason Martin each had receptions in the loss.
Moore paced the Cardinal defense with 13 tackles, followed by eight from Caiden Hoffman, seven from Robinson, and six each from Kraft and Gage Britt.
Nemaha Central is now 26-0 with two state titles over the past two years. The Thunder also won in 2019. The Cardinals close the book on a 12-1 season.
"I'm really proud of these six seniors and everything they accomplished throughout their four-year career, and all the guys before them who have built this and put us in this position, Baird said. "Unfortunately, we just weren't quite good enough today, but it doesn't take away what this group has done to get here."