2012 In Review

Fall did not start well for Kimball.

Both North Platte St. Patrick’s and Hershey stymied the Longhorns offense, big Jake Reader--tagged as quarterback to begin the season--went down with an injury and Cambridge planted 56 on the board...all before Kimball managed to score its first points of the season.

This moment came in the fourth quarter of the third game, when Trent Rutledge sacked Trojans quarterback Taylor Kubik in the end zone for a safety. But Jonathon Withrow tacked on a touchdown, followed by a second from Colton Stull and a transformation began.

A week later, at home, against Dundy County-Stratton. The Longhorns handed back 127 yards on 16 penalties, another 26 when an errant snap sailed into the end zone for a Tigers’ safety and they managed just 8 first downs all night.

None of this mattered, however, thanks to a relentless defense that forced 7 turnovers, including 5 interceptions. Kimball captured their first win of the season, 31-2, on homecoming.

“We put in a new defense,” said Logan Modlin. “They couldn’t predict us.”

Assistant coach Gene Mohr installed an aggressive scheme to counter Dundy County’s air attack. They dropped Tigers’ signal callers for -34 yards on the night and caused 2 safeties, in addition to the turnovers.

Austin Pile would go on to lead the entire state in picks with 6. He also stepped in as Kimball’s signal caller.

After dropping their first three games, head coach Chauncey Pedersen’s side rebounded decisively, claiming victory in four of their next five contests.

Against Bayard they earned the “W” thanks to a defensive stand as time ticked down. When Bridgeport’s turn came, it was a crashing defense and a calculated pass from Pile to Michael Ferguson.

One could argue that Kimball’s grinding, clock control offense ensured their 33-24 win at Mitchell. The hosts held the ball for just 3:33 in the first quarter and a bit over 4:00 in the final frame.

On the other hand, two unexpected, lightning quick Longhorns scores proved to be the difference—and then some.

Twice Jonathon Withrow answered Tigers’ touchdowns immediately and emphatically.

When workhorse running back Adam Schlotthauer evened things at 7 apiece with a 16 yard run in the second quarter, Withrow took the ensuing kickoff 90 yards, squirting almost untouched through the first line of black jerseys and outracing the rest.

Following another Schlotthauer touchdown at the beginning of the fourth quarter that put Mitchell on top 24-20, Withrow scooped up a squib kick that eluded upback Michael Ferguson and raced 78 yards for another exclamation point.

“I saw everyone making blocks and just ran it back,” he explained. “It’s never just the runner.”

Pile, Reader and Bernie Bridge earned state honorable mention honors for their defensive effort. Both Reader and Bridge racked up more than 70 tackles apiece.

Withrow picked up mention for his darting runs--as well as his dazzling special teams play.

Reader was named conference MVP. Caleb Reuter and J.J. Poss also picked up nods.

Zach Rockhold-O’Brien became one of the state’s better punters, as well.

When the wind died down and the dust settled on the first round of playoff football, however, Blue Hill claimed a 42-7 victory over the Longhorns.

Yet with just under 6:00 remaining in the contest, however, the hosts held a more vulnerable 22-7 advantage.

Kimball was just two scores from an improbable playoff upset. But Pedersen risked going for it on fourth and 10 from midfield. Austin Pile’s pass fell incomplete, handing the ball back to the Bobcats.

Despite the setback, Kimball and Pedersen had accomplished something special: three consecutive playoff appearances.

Shortly after the end of the football season, Pedersen stepped down from his post to concentrate on his counseling career.

Banner County suffered through a rebuilding year. For Potter-Dix, though, losing one of their key (and record setting) players to graduation just allowed the Coyotes to reload.

They rolled into the playoffs with a 5-3 record, an MVP kicker in Joey Bailey, a hard hitting Jake Johnson on defense and a senior quarterback averaging 311 passing yards per game, many to Brady Knigge.

Johnson threw for 2,799 on the year, tallying 44 aerial touchdown strikes to just 9 interceptions.

The final pass of Johnson’s high school career was a memorable one.

“It was a touchdown,” the lanky Potter-Dix quarterback reported, hauled down by Kyle Gorsuch and carried into the end zone from 24 yards.

Yet it was not the team’s final drive that lingered in every mind after the Coyotes fell to unbeaten Medicine Valley 76-35 in the first round of D-2 playoffs. Instead, Potter-Dix players mulled over their opening possession.

“Everything clicked,” said lineman Tommy Maddox.

The Coyotes rampaged down field, knocking the hosts backwards into the red zone, then inside the 10. But on fourth down, a suddenly taught Raiders defense dragged Gorsuch down an agonizing fraction short.

“I dove for the marker,” the diminutive wide out recalled. “It was close.”