The Bluejays are State Champions!
by Ella Gaes
On Friday, November 20, the Pierce Bluejays were able to walk away with the gold after they dominated Adams Central 28-19, ending the season with the perfect record of 12-0. Even better the Pierce Bluejays football team can now classify themselves as the 2020 Nebraska Class C-1 state football champions.
Head Coach Mark Brahmer was beyond thrilled to say, “The boys played very hard and a number of our guys stepped up and made big plays when we needed a spark. After watching the film, I thought our boys played some of their best ball of the season. They definitely displayed a tremendous amount of toughness and grit. In the end, the coaches and I are quite proud to have been part of a group of young men that is as special as this group is. In fact, we are quite humbled. This was a team that didn't have one or two stars who made everything go. The reason for this team's success was the collection of all of their talents, hard work, belief, and commitment. It's the power of TEAM! It is what draws me and many men to this sport over and over and year after year. To see young men grow and develop and give of themselves for the greater good of the TEAM is a thrill for me and our coaches. As a coach, I will forever be in debt to all our former players, including this team and all our seniors, for their hard work and efforts to promote our program and represent our school and community in a positive manner. This senior group, collectively, is one of the best classes we've had. Our community should be very proud of these fine, young gentlemen. I also want to point out the fact that the good Lord blessed us throughout the season and allowed us the opportunity to keep playing despite the difficulties of the current situation in our country. We have much to be thankful for as we head into Thanksgiving week. He definitely was looking out for us.”
To start the Bluejays off strong Tyler Race zoomed past the defense for a 48-yard touchdown. Chaden Roth then added a point with the kick. Adams Central fought back and scored a touchdown. The quarter ended with a tie game of 7-7.
In the second quarter Abram Scholting connected with Logan Moeller 28 yards away for another touchdown. Roth had another successful PAT.
Following halftime, both teams prepared to put on a show. Adams Central made a field goal making the score 14-10. The Jays then added two touchdowns to the board. Garret Meier caught a 33 yard touchdown pass from Scholting, and this was followed by Roth’s extra point. The Bluejays second touchdown came from Benjamin Brahmer who caught the pass from 40 yards out thrown again by Scholting. Roth’s kick was good. Adams Central scored one final touchdown. This ended the third quarter with a score of 28-17.
During the last quarter Adams Central scored a safety. The Bluejays held up Adams Central for the rest of the game to end the championship game with a score of 28-19. The Bluejays racked up a total of 368 yards to Adams Central’s 320 yards.
Senior Tanner Kuper commented on the game saying, “Coming out of the gates we were excited. We punched the ball in the end zone first drive. This set the tone for how the rest of the game would go. Adams Central ended up breaking a couple of big plays, but in the end we rallied up as a team and hit harder. I can say I am proud of how every single one of my teammates performed. A few of us placed our bodies on the line. Honestly the feeling of being a winner is still setting in. I feel like we still have practice next week and another team to knock off, but, sadly, this is the end of the 2020 state champion Bluejays last journey.”
This game the first time the Bluejays had won the state title in 12 years.
