Like a pair of freight trains headed opposite ways down a single track, they've been on a collision course since the preseason. ]]> Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:07:00 GMT So this is what it feels liked to be an undefeated state champion... Ponca, in the state finals for the first time ever, rallied to score late in the fourth quarter and then stop a Hartington Cedar Catholic two-point PAT in overtime to claim a thrilling 14-13 victory in Tuesday's C2 state title game at Memorial Stadium]]> Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:02:00 GMT In a battle of perennial powers, Norfolk Catholic and Hastings St. Cecilia will square off for the Class C1 championship for the first time. It will be just the second time the teams have met up in the playoffs. Norfolk Catholic beat St. Cecilia 26-11 back in 1992. ]]> Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:41:00 GMT It was a knee breaker, that move. It set up what proved to be a touchdown which put his team in control for good, as Millard South beat Millard West for the Class A title on Monday night. It was the sort of move you'd expect from Bronson Marsh. Marsh once again proved why he's as money as any quarterback in the state, coming up big in the biggest game]]> Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:27:00 GMT It's like the nightmare where you are falling and wake up just before you hit the ground. Only Giltner's D1 title hopes hit the ground on Monday afternoon. Hard. With all-state running back Clint Belina doing a tap dance on what had been a stout Giltner defense, Howells beat the Hornets 68-28 in the D1 playoff championship game at Memorial Stadium]]> Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:43:00 GMT Like a classic musical number, St. Francis played a great Korus in the D2 state football finals. Running through tacklers in bunches, repeatedly ramming his way into the end zone, all-state running back Matt Korus led St. Francis to a 34-0 victory over Hayes Center in the D2 title game played Tuesday at Memorial Stadium. ]]> Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:55:00 GMT Like dodgeballs being thrown at Peter LaFleur, it's all happening so fast. First-time finalist Ponca - make that UNBEATEN first time finalist Ponca - looks to cap a perfect season by beating Hartington Cedar Catholic in Tuesday's C2 state championship game]]> Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:00:00 GMT As usual, here we are at state finals time and I'm left wondering where the whole thing went so fast. And, as usual, we have a tremendous lineup of state finals games, though playing the games three-a-day on a Monday and Tuesday, as opposed to twice daily, Thursday through Saturday, is sort of freaky]]> Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:00:00 GMT Oh, how easy it is to take near-perfection for granted. As in the case of Howells football. There was big news in Howells this year - the Bobcats actually lost a game - and that opened the door for a whole bunch of D1 teams to step onto center stage]]> Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:30:00 GMT It wasn't supposed to happen. Not this way. Not this year. Not with this team. Prior to this season Hayes Center had never produced a state finalist in football, though in the past 10 years or so it had fielded some of the best teams in school history, including last year's D2 semifinalist]]> Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:26:00 GMT The Giltner Hornets were defeated just once during the regular season and saw an opportunity to avenge that loss on Monday. Giltner hosted the undefeated Palmer Tigers, who bested them 46-37 in the second week of the season]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:15:00 GMT For those of you attending the state football finals, here is a guide to ticket purchase, seating and parking information. Information is courtesy the Nebraska Schools Activities Association]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:00:00 GMT Hartington Cedar Catholic needed a touchdown. The Trojans had tied the game up with about two minutes left in the game on a Chad Koch touchdown and two-point conversion, then forced visiting Cambridge into a three-and-out with about 30 seconds to play. They needed a big play, and they found Cody Klug]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:25:00 GMT Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:58:00 GMT Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:00:00 GMT My, what an interesting couple of days of football. The semifinals in classes C1 through D2 were contested on Monday and Tuesday, leaving us with a pairing of unbeaten teams in C1 to go with the unbeatens who will meet in Class B]]> Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:52:00 GMT Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:01:00 GMT Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:01:00 GMT The Ewing Tigers had a lot to play for yesterday as they hosted Humphrey St. Francis]]> Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:30:00 GMT I remember that night. I chose not to go to the game, even though I lived only 20 miles away, because I was certain of the outcome. I was certain Broken Bow would lose. Sort of like tonight]]> Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:59:00 GMT