(Hastings, NE) – Tying his own Hastings record of three touchdowns set last year versus Concordia, senior Ethan Wilborn ended the day with four catches for 150 yards in Hastings’ 44-35 win over the Briar Cliff Chargers.
A high scoring half started relatively slow for both teams, as Briar Cliff struck first on a 65-yard touchdown pass. Hastings responded late in the first quarterback on a freshman Deven Brady 61-yard touchdown run to tie it at 7-7.
Briar Cliff opened the second half with a score on a 4th-and-9 play, but missed the extra point. Hastings brought freshman Cassius Campbell in for a series at quarterback and it paid dividends as he connected with Wilborn for a 23-yard touchdown pass on a 4th-and-16 to make it 14-13.
After a quick three-and-out by the Chargers, sophomore Carson Kudlacek came back in and targeted Wilborn on three of the next five throws. The first play drew a pass interference, second play gained 19 yards, and the third was a 38-yard touchdown pass on 3rd-and-11, making it 21-13.
A long touchdown by Briar Cliff was quickly countered by Hastings, as Kudlacek found Wilborn again for a 70-yard touchdown catch-and-run a few minutes later. The extra point was blocked and returned by the Chargers to the endzone, cutting the Hastings lead to 27-22.
Junior Jake Lambert intercepted a Charger pass and returned it inside the Briar Cliff 10-yard line and Hastings scored their last touchdown of the half three plays later on a Kudlacek 9-yard touchdown pass to junior Eli Nappe. The touchdown and extra point gave Hastings a 34-22 halftime lead.
The Chargers had a very promising drive to open the half, but junior defensive back Sam Ahl thwarted their opportunity by picking off a pass in the endzone. Briar Cliff would force a punt and eventually scored a touchdown to cut the lead to 34-29.
Hastings brought Campbell back in for their second drive of the half and he completed a couple of big passes to Nappe and freshman Hayden Allen. Sophomore Josh Ray finished the drive with a powerful 11-yard touchdown run to give the Broncos a 41-29 lead going into the fourth quarter.
Briar Cliff responded on their next drive, converting a fourth-and-goal for a touchdown, but missed the extra point to keep the Hastings lead at six. The Broncos worked the clock on their next possession, using a 14-play, 63-yard drive to take almost six minutes off the clock. The drive ended with a 29-yard field goal from senior Xander Salyers.
The Chargers managed to march back down the field, but an incompletion on third down from the Hastings 10-yard line led to a missed 27-yard field goal. Briar Cliff would get the ball back one more time, but the Hastings defense held strong against, giving the Broncos the 44-35 win.
Kudlacek ended his day 10 of 24 passing for 170 yards and three touchdowns, while Campbell was four of seven for 119 yards and one touchdown. Brady had nine carries for 89 yards and one touchdown, while Ray had 15 carries for 38 yards and one touchdown.
In addition to Wilborn’s 150-yard, three touchdown day, Nappe had five catches for 63 yards and one touchdown. Lambert and junior linebacker Jayden Roberts led the team defensively with 10 tackles each.
The victory gives Hastings’ its first win of the season, giving them a 1-2 record. Up next, Hastings will play at Doane at 1pm next Saturday, September 21.
