Quarterfinal action of the Class D 1 football playoffs had Hemingford traveling to Crofton on Friday. Unfortunately, the five hour trip for the Bobcats was a rough one. Crofton used a combination of strong rushing game and a stellar defense to take down the guests 60 to 12. With the loss, Hemingford ends their season with a solid record at 9 and 2. The Warriors raced to a 42 to 0 lead at halftime and cruised into the semi finals. Hemingford advanced to the elite 8 with victories over East Butler and Stanton but ran into a powerhouse Crofton ball club.
Quarter #1 was tough for the Cats. The hosts scored three times while holding HHS without a first down. Hemingford got the ball first and had to punt after three plays. Taking possession on the 16, the Warriors needed just 2 plays to score. Crofton found the end zone on a 47 yard TD run to take the early lead. The PAT was good and with 9:46 on the clock, the Cat deficit stood at 8 to 0. A nice kick return by Cat Jayce Haas on the following series got the visitors the ball to the 30. The Crofton defense was up for the challenge and a fourth down pass by HHS was incomplete. It would take 7 plays for the hosts to extend their margin. With under six minutes left in the first period, a four yard touchdown run made it 14 to 0. Hopes again were high for the Bobcats on their ensuing drive thanks to a yard kick return by Carson Haas. Again, a fourth down attempt by the Cat offense failed as the Warriors took over at midfield. The score then went to 20 to 0 with a Warrior 32 yard TD scamper with 3:13 on the clock. Period 1 ended with a Hemingford punt and the Cats down by 3 touchdowns.
Crofton was denied on their first try in the second. Strong tackles by Bobcat defenders Jacob Bryner, Owen Plug, and Zaine Feist prevented another Warrior score. Following a Hemingford first down, disaster then struck as a Warrior interception from midfield ended the series. The pick was returned 45 yards for another Crofton score. With 7:24 remaining in the half, the hosts led 28 to 0. Another Cat miscue set up the next tally for the Warriors. A Bobcat turnover on the 36 yard line gave Crofton excellent field position. It would take 5 plays for the host’s to increase their advantage after a 5 yard TD run. The extra point was no good and with under 4 minutes until halftime, the guests were down 34 to 0. The half came to a close with another score by the Warriors and HHS trailing 42 to 0.
Period 3 began with more points by Crofton. A nice tackle for a loss by Hemingford’s Tayten Haas slowed the drive but a big gain in the play game got the hosts close. At the 7:46 mark of the third, Crofton added to their lead with a 5 yard TD pass. The point after was stopped thanks to strong efforts from Feist and Grayson Hunter. Down 48 to 0, Hemingford got things together on their drive of the third. Jayce Haas’s 34 yard kick return placed the ball at midfield. Strong gains in the rushing game by Feist, Talon Payne, and Bryner pushed the ball deep into Warrior territory. A 16 yard pass play from Bryner to Jayce Haas set up a 2 yard TD keeper by Bryner. The PAT was no good and with 3:51 on the clock, the score stood at 48 to 6. Two minutes later, the Warriors found the end zone again with a touchdown run of 6 yards. The point after was no good and the period came to a close with the Warriors up 54 to 6.
In the fourth, both teams failed to score on their opening series. Hemingford could not cash in on a 26 yard kick return by Carson Haas. A sack by Tayten Haas and Payne forced a Warrior punt on the host’s next drive. With under 5 minutes left in the game, a 30 yard TD option run by Carson Haas made it 54 to 12. Crofton would tack on one more score on a 24 yard TD run with 1:24 remaining in the contest. Bobcat Josh Miller would stop the following PAT. Final Crofton 60 Hemingford 12
HEM 0 0 6 6 12
CROF 20 22 12 6 60
Stats Bryner 13 carries 26 yards 1 TD Carson Haas 2 carries 42 yards 1 TD Payne 5 attempts 9 yards Feist 8 tries 36 yards Ryan Ragsdale 5 carries 20 yards Passing Bryner completed 8 passes for 67 yards Jayce Haas 5 catches 53 yards
The Cats say goodbye to a talented senior group who led HHS to three straight playoff berths. A nice group of juniors and sophomores will return.