HARTINGTON - There may not have been championships implications in a Top Ten contest between #2 Battle Creek and #6 Cedar Catholic on Friday night, but it sure felt like it.

And as championship programs say, "Defense Wins Championships", the Trojans took a major step into that motto after knocking off the Braves 21-14, standing tall in the game's biggest moments.

#6 Cedar Catholic (4-1) entered Friday's battle after winning 4 consecutive games, meanwhile #2 Battle Creek (5-0) carried in an undefeated record and the top spot in Nebraska Class C2 power points. This marks the 14th time since 2011 that the Trojans and Braves have met.

Battle Creek and Cedar Catholic traded opening possessions. On the Braves second drive of the game, the Trojan defense made an early statement. Jacob Steffen burst through the line to strip-sack Braves quarterback Jaxon Mettler. Easton Hochstein recovered the fumble, while just a few plays later, Trojan signal-caller Braeden Reifenrath snuck in a 1-yard keeper for a touchdown.

After an empty Braves possession, the Trojans marched down the field and capped off a long drive with a 13 yard touchdown pass from Reifenrath to Jaymison Cattau, who ripped a pass away from good coverage and escaped the defense for the score. After a missed PAT, the Trojans led 13-0.

On the ensuing kickoff, Casey Schnebel sent shockwaves into the visiting Battle Creek crowd after returning the kick 90-yards to find the team's first points of the game. 

At the half, Cedar Catholic led 13-7.

Both offenses struggled to find their footing, as both defenses found ways to stop the run and limit the air attack. Into the fourth quarter, the Trojans maintained the 6-point lead.

Early in the fourth quarter, Jaxon Mettler threw a nice pass to Aden Pochop's post route over the middle and jolted past the Cedar Catholic defense for a 33-yard score. After the PAT, the Braves jumped ahead 14-13.

Cedar Catholic moved back down the field and capitalized on another Reifenrath touchdown run from a yard out. Reifenrath also took the two-point conversion into the endzone to give the Trojans a 21-14 lead.

Battle Creek moved down the field quickly, but got stopped on 4th and 13 by Cedar Catholic after a pass intended for MJ Wragge was too tall, giving the Trojans possession.

The Trojans went three and out, giving the Braves one more chance with under 20 seconds in the game. Near midfield, Mettler's final pass fell incomplete and the Trojans celebrated a victory over the #2 team in Class C2.

Braeden Reifenrath finished the game with 40 passing yards and 76 rushing yards, to go along with 3 total touchdowns. Breiton Whitmire rushed for 90 yards in the victory.

Jaxon Mettler led the way with 115 passing yards for the Braves, adding a touchdown pass.

The #6 Cedar Catholic Trojans improve to 5-1, while the #2 Battle Creek Braves fall to 5-1.

CC: 7 | 6 | 0 | 8 = 21

BC: 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 = 14