JOHNSON - A September Friday night, homecoming festivities all around, perfect fall weather, and two undefeated football teams from southeast Nebraska ... this was the setting in Johnson last Friday night for a Class D-2 top  10 match up.  The Johnson-Brock Eagles hosted the Nebraska City Lourdes Knights in a game full of anticipation and hype.
 
 

 Johnson-Brock had possession of the ball to begin the game, but found it difficult to gain positive yardage. The Knights' defense used its size and power to shut down the run game during the first series. The Eagles converted a first down off of a false start penalty. JB was then stopped on the next third and long, and found themselves in a punting situation. 

 
Nebraska City Lourdes dominated the run during their first offensive possession. Levi Athens powered through the Eagles defense as he managed to run for a 19-yard gain. Nebraska City Lourdes drove almost the length of the football field before getting stopped on a 4th down play.  The Eagles' defense made a big play to regain possession. 
 
The Eagles found some holes in the Knights' defense to add positive yards on the ground. After several running attempts, Senior quarterback, Sloan Pelican, found fellow Senior, Isaac Brook, on a third and long pass play to capture the first down. A few plays later, the Eagles were back to facing a fourth and 10 situation when Pelican located wide receiver, Chase VanWinkle, for a 27-yard touchdown pass. The Eagles were able to convert the 2-point conversion to take the early lead 8-0.
 
Johnson-Brock's defense proved to be stellar on the night, not allowing the Knights' offense to gain much momentum in the first half. 
 
The Eagles then scored two more times off of a run by Pelican and a 6-yard pass play to Junior, Austin Meyer, respectively. After stopping the Eagles with less than a minute remaining in the first half, NCL regained possession in hopes that they could put some points on the board before halftime. With little time left on the clock, Knights' senior quarterback, Nolan Beccard, threw an interception. Casen Dalinghaus'  interception would set up an Eagles pass play for a touchdown to Sophomore, Brody Koehler. The Eagles would take a 28-0 lead going into halftime. 
 
 

 

In the second half, the Eagles continued to dominate on both sides of the ball. Pelican found open receivers and Sophomore, Hayden Gravatt, found open field to run the ball, as he ended the game with 103 rushing yards and one touchdown. He contributed 7 tackles on defense as well. JB kept Nebraska City Lourdes off balance by executing both the pass and run game. The Eagles won 47 to 0.
 
Chase Vanwinkle lead the Eagles in the receiving yards column with 6 receptions for 80 yards and one touchdown. 
 
Pelican finished the game 14-23 with 181 passing yards, 3 touchdowns and 89 yards rushing with one touchdown. He added 6 tackles on the night. 
 

 

 
Senior, Lleyton Behrends, caught a pass for a 2-point conversion moments before he recovered a fumble in the end zone to add another touchdown for the Eagles. Behrends finished with a game high of 8 total tackles. 
 
Senior, Zac Hawley, added 6 tackles and one sack on the night.
 
For Nebraska City Lourdes, Callen Schnitzer lead the team in total offense with 73 yards. Beccard went 4-14 for 49 yards passing, with 13 tackles. Miles Poppleton added 10 total tackles.   Robert Honeysuckle lead the team with 14 tackles. 
 
The Eagles, now 5-0, will face another top ten opponent next Friday as they travel to BDS. Nebraska City Lourdes, 4-1, will travel to Diller Odell. 
 
 
Class D2 standings
  • Johnson-Brock (5-0), 47.0000
  • Central Valley (5-0), 46.4000
  • Wynot (5-0), 45.6000
  • Dundy County Stratton (5-0), 45.4000
  • South Loup (5-0), 45.2000
  • Lourdes Central Catholic (4-1), 44.8000
  • Ainsworth (5-0), 43.6000