Cyclones Overpower Warriors, 68-14, To Win County Clash Opener

The Clearwater/Orchard football team excelled in all phases of the game, as the Cyclones routed Neligh-Oakdale, 68-14, on Friday.

"What I was most pleased with today was the way we started off the game," stated OC coach Jeff Shabram. "We have traditionally been a slow starting team. I was very encouraged by the way we started the game."

"They are a very good football team," commented N-O coach Ron Beacom. "They are very physical and have some good skill kids. We knew coming in what we were coming up against. It's on film now and it is something we can grow from and get better with. Hopefully we get a couple of kids back, but I'm not going to use that as an excuse. They would have been a load even if we were fully loaded ourselves. I like this team and I think we'll be alright."

It was a great start for OC, and a terrible start for the Warriors, to open the contest. On the second play from scrimmage for N-O, the snap went over Hunter Charf's head and the Cyclones' Clay Thiele pounced on the ball in the end zone for a touchdown.

"We started fast and kept going fast the whole game," Thiele noted. "It takes big plays to get the team going and that really helped. It kept us going."

Following a three-and-out by N-O, Jacob Long broke free for a 54-yard TD run to extend OC's lead to 14.

The Warriors had two touchdowns called back on their next drive. Andrew Herley appeared to break loose on a screen and score, but a block in the back was called against N-O, and Austin Rice's touchdown grab was negated by a holding call.

"There were some good things out there," Beacom spoke. "We had a couple of touchdowns called back and that would have made things different. We probably wouldn't have been so aggressive with a couple of the things we were trying to do."

A sack on fourth down by Gage Switzer ended the Warrior's promising drive in Cyclone territory.

OC responded with a 10-play, 65 yard drive, ending in a Eli Macke 13-yard scoring run.

The Warriors got on the board halfway through the second quarter when Austin Rice took a screen pass and ran 51-yards for a TD.

The Cyclones answered with a 27-yard Thiele touchdown catch from from Blake Hoke on their ensuing drive.

N-O's next three drives ended in interceptions with Long and Macke scoring on TD runs and Hoke scoring on a pick-six from 40 yards out to give the Cyclones a 52-6 halftime advantage.

Hoke found Chris Kester for a 20-yard TD pass on OC's opening drive of the second half and Houston Marino found the end zone on a 50-yard run in the fourth.

With the second string in for N-O, the Warriors drove 55 yards and scored when Brock Kester connected on a 20-yard TD pass to Carson Jones.

"We talk all the time that everyone of our kids have to practice hard because everyone of them are a play away from getting a chance to go on the field," Beacom said. "Fortunately for us, some of these young kids have prepared well. They may not have the physical tools yet, but mentally they can execute everything we ask of them to do. The young kids did what we wanted them to do and we got a touchdown out of it."

The OC defense was dominant in the win, forcing four Warrior turnovers and scoring on all four takeaways.

"I was very pleased with the defense," Shabram remarked. "We had a good idea that we would be able to control the line of scrimmage. I was very impressed with our coverage. There were a couple of breakdowns and some things to work on, but I was impressed with our coverage. We had three interceptions and I was pleased."

The Cyclones outgained N-O, 422-190, and scored on all but two drives.

"That's what we talk about all the time on offense; we need to control the line of scrimmage and we're so versatile," Shabram continued. "Guys are interchangeable and that helps with our depth and versatility. It is just one game, but it's a good start."

Long led the rushing attack with 91 yards on the ground and two scores, while Macke added 43 yards rushing and two TDs. Chris Kester gained 114 yards of total offense and caught a touchdown pass and Hoke went six-for-eight passing for 73 yards and two scores.

"It took the linemen making big holes for the running backs, it took the quarterbacks to read passes and it was a team effort," Thiele commented. "We came together and did it."

Charf threw for 101 yards, threw a TD pass and rushed for 36 yards. Rice caught three passes for 88 yards and a score.

Neligh-Oakdale (0-1) looks to bounce back Friday in the Warriors' homecoming game against Ainsworth at 7 p.m.

"Hopefully we found out we have to be more physical," Beacom stated. "That's the bottom line, we have to make an effort to practice every day like we want to be the best. Not only on our practice field, but the best on any practice field. We have to be more physical. There's a lot of growth yet and we have to improve. Once these kids get older and get more experienced, we'll be a pretty good football team."

Clearwater-Orchard (1-0) travels to Creighton to take on the D1 powerhouse Friday at 7 p.m.

"Creighton is No. 1 in the state in D1," Shabram concluded. "They have a wonderful backfield and a nice quarterback. They have a lot of nice offensive weapons. We're going to have to control the line of scrimmage next Friday night if we're going to want a chance at that one."