#1 BRLD holds off late Norfolk Catholic rally to win 4th straight

The Wolverines racked up over 500 yards of offense to send Norfolk Catholic to an 0-4 start.

September 21, 2019Updated: September 21, 2019
News Channel NebraskaBy News Channel Nebraska

NORFOLK - With last year's 49-14 loss to Norfolk Catholic in mind, BRLD's theme this week was to "finish the job."

It was hard work...but the job got done.

Class C2's top-ranked team held off a furious late-game charge from Norfolk Catholic for a 40-32 road win.

The Knights played like a team desperate to shake off the vibes of their 0-3 start, and played their best offensive game of the season by far. The Knights racked up 333 yards and saw junior quarterback Cayden Cunningham - forced into a full-time starting role because of an injury to senior Nate Brungardt - pass for four touchdowns.

But in a game that saw 72 points and over 800 yards of total offense, it was - ironically - a defensive play that may have swung the game.

Trailing 18-17 on the opening drive of the second half, the Knights had a 4th and goal inside the one-yard line, only to see BRLD defensive end Jaxon Johnson break through the offensive line and drop fullback Wyatt Smydra for a four-yard loss. The Wolverines would score the next 14 points.

BRLD finished with 509 yards of offense, eclipsing the 500-yard mark for the second straight week.

BRLD (4-0) opens district play next week at #8 Yutan, while Norfolk Catholic (0-4) begins their district season on the road against Crofton.

SCORING SUMMARY

BRLD                             - 12  6 14  6 - 40 

NORFOLK CATHOLIC -  7 10  0 15 - 32

1ST QUARTER

8:15 - Kobe Lyons (BRLD) 3-yd TD run (2-pt conversion no good)

4:01 - Kobe Lyons (BRLD) 1-yd TD run (2-pt conversion no good)

0:11 - Cayden Cunningham (NC) 8-yd TD pass to Alex Lammers (XP good)

2ND QUARTER

9:49 - Will Gatzemeyer (BRLD) 41-yd TD pass to Lucas Vogt (2-pt conversion no good)

6:55 - Cayden Cunningham (NC) 31-yd TD pass to Tristen Schlecht (XP good)

1:01 - Riley Carlson (NC) 35-yd FG

3RD QUARTER

6:16 - Will Gatzemeyer (BRLD) 22-yd TD pass to Dylan Beutler (2-pt conversion no good)

0:55 - Will Gatzemeyer (BRLD) 1-yd TD run (2-pt conversion good)

4TH QUARTER

6:51 - Cayden Cunningham (NC) 36-yd TD pass to Wyatt Smydra (XP good)

2:48 - Will Gatzemeyer (BRLD) 24-yd TD pass to Lucas Vogt (2-pt conversion good)

0:58 - Cayden Cunningham (NC) 8-yd TD pass to Alex Lammers (2-pt conversion good)

GAME STATE

BRLD

RUSHING

Will Gatzemeyer - 24 carries, 123 yds, 1 TD

Kobe Lyons - 17 carries, 63 yds, 2 TD

Luke Ronnfeldt - 2 carries, 0 yds

PASSING

Will Gatzemeyer - 16-of-24, 313 yds, 3 TD's, 0 INT

RECEIVING

Lucas Vogt - 8 rec, 168 yds, 2 TD

Jaxon Johnson - 4 rec, 110 yds

Dylan Beutler - 3 rec, 33 yds, 1 TD

Caden Hanson - 1 rec, 2 yds

DEFENSIVE

Jaxon Johnson - 3 sacks

Derek Petersen - 1 sack

Luke Ronnfeldt - 1 sack

NORFOLK CATHOLIC

RUSHING

Jackson Clausen - 14 carries, 82 yds

Tristen Schlecht - 6 carries, 21 yds

Jeremy Dreher - 2 carries, 21 yds

Cameron Bettenhausen - 3 carries, 9 yds

Wyatt Smydra - 3 carries, 7 yds

Cayden Cunningham - 8 carries, 6 yds

Preston Eisenmenger - 1 carry, 1 yd

PASSING

Cayden Cunningham - 12-for-20, 186 yds, 4 TD, 0 INT

Alex Prim - 0-for-1

RECEIVING

Brennen Kelley - 4 rec, 63 yds

Alex Lammers - 4 rec, 37 yds, 2 TD

Wyatt Smydra - 1 rec, 36 yds, 1 TD

Tristen Schlecht - 1 rec, 31 yds, 1 TD

Jackson Clausen - 1 rec, 16 yds

Cameron Bettenhausen - 1 rec, 9 yds

 

Regional

Sen. Pete Ricketts holds roundtable for future progress of AG

Sen. Pete Ricketts holds roundtable for future progress of AG

Semi struck by train on Old Potash Highway in Grand Island

Semi struck by train on Old Potash Highway in Grand Island

Donated pet oxygen mask helps save dog after Grand Island fire

Donated pet oxygen mask helps save dog after Grand Island fire

Hastings Man Accused of Leaving Child in Roadside Ditch Pleads Not Guilty

Hastings Man Accused of Leaving Child in Roadside Ditch Pleads Not Guilty

Army Corps holds Kearney meeting on proposed Perkins County Canal project

Army Corps holds Kearney meeting on proposed Perkins County Canal project

Wyatt Flores, Trace Adkins, Hairball Announced for Adams County Fair Concert Series

Wyatt Flores, Trace Adkins, Hairball Announced for Adams County Fair Concert Series