Kimball opens season with a 28-0 shut out

A neutral side matchup took place this past Thursday night when your Longhorns headed east to North Platte to take on Centura, the team out of Cairo.

Kimball took to the gridiron as the home team in the matchup. A perfect evening for a night under the lights was set to get under way.

With the Centurions lined up ready to return the opening kick-off ,. Kole Bush for the Longhorns, booted a good one off his cleats as the clock started. On the Centurions first trip to the line of scrimmage, a big pass play was in the works and ended with a touchdown for Centura and some big missed tackles for Kimball. This very first play from Centura’s offense set the tone for the rest of the game.

Centura jumped out to a 6-0 lead just with 15 seconds off the clock, the boys then lined up for a two point conversion, but were unable to complete the play.

The Longhorns first offensive drive brought up a fourth down and four. The Longhorns went for it but Quarterback Izaac Reuter came up short for Kimball on the throw.

With only 4:52 remaining in the first quarter Centura scored again putting up another six points on the board, once again the Centura Centrurians tried again to add two points to the board yet this time completing the two point conversion to stretch their lead just a tad more to 14-0.

At this point in the game it looked like the Longhorns would have the score run up and would be leaving North Platte with their tail between their legs. The boys needed to get things going on both sides of the ball.

The first quarter came to a close with the score still 14-0 with Centura up and ready to start the second quarter with a new set of downs on Kimball’s 14 yard line.

Senior Byron Rowley had a couple great tackles and a sack to start off the second quarter. Then a Reuter-to-Colton Mielke connection for a 12 yard pass play that gave the Longhorns a fresh set of downs. Although Kimball couldn’t come up with any points on this offensive attack, the hometown boys were looking better in the second quarter.

With a sack by Paycen Harroun, with just seconds remaining in the first half, forced Centura into a fourth down situation and they decided to go for it. With just 27 seconds, Kimball took over on downs at their own 43 yard line after the stop. With the clock winding down Reuter threw a an interception on the Longhorns 38 yard line to end the half.

After a short rest and a much needed talk with Coach Aarestad, Zane Anthony and Mielke were back to receive the kick off to start the second half. Again no score on this offensive drive yet the boys kept plugging away.

Centura became a little careless at times with the ball to start off the second half, with Rowley coming up with a big recovered fumble. That drive again was scoreless.

Penalties, mental mistakes, and missed tackles played a huge part in this season opener. “I think the kids competed in the game. We were in the game until they scored a touchdown with a minte left in the third quarter. Centura has a great quarterback and he was just better then we were.”

But there were some high points, including a couple trips Centura marched down the field looking to score and the Longhorns D was able to hold the Centurians on fourth and goal.

But it was again Centura who was able to score two more times in the second half, once was a touchdown, with the offense trying to complete another two point conversion but this one ended incomplete. The Centurians again scored one last touchdown and no surprise tried and connected with this last two point conversion to end the night on a 28-0 shut out.

“The biggest thing we need to improve on is our weightlifting. I don’t think most of these kids have ever lifted before and we need to change that aspect of our program”

Make sure to catch your Longhorns in action as they head to Gordon, tomorrow, Friday, September 1, matchup to be played at 6 p.m. Remember if you cant make it to the game log on to City Link for complete live game coverage with the one and only Spud Rowley.