Action in the Class D 1 playoffs began for the Hemingford football team on Thursday with a home afternoon contest with East Butler. Cat quarterback Jacob Bryner had a 5 touchdown performance in leading the hosts to a 64 to 14 win over the visiting Tigers. Bryner ended the affair with 142 yards on the ground and one score. In the air, Bryner passes for 134 yards and had 4 TDs. Receiver Jayce Haas had 3 touchdown catches. Down 8 to 6 in the first quarter, the Bobcats ran off 28 straight points and led 34 to 8 at halftime. East Butler would score first in the third quarter but the Cats closed the contest with 30 consecutive points in getting the victory. With the win, Hemingford goes to 8 and 1 for the year and advances to the second round of the playoffs.
Touchdown #1 for the Cats came early in the contest. A 61 yard TD pass from Bryner to Haas made it 6 to 0 at the 10:40 mark in the first quarter. The guests answered right back with a 30 yard TD pass and with 8:46 on the clock, the game was tied at 6. East Butler added the PAT to go up 8 to 6. All Cats from there. On Hemingford’s next drive, a 32 yard pass to Tayten Haas set up a 2 yard touchdown run by Bryner. The extra point was good on a pass to Talon Payne. Hemingford led 14 to 8 with 6 minutes left in the period. On the Tiger’s next possession, tackles for a loss by Payne and Josh Miller forced a Tiger punt. The Bobcat’s next tallies came on a TD pass to Tayten Haas that went 18 yards. Quarter 1 came to a conclusion with the hosts out in the lead at 20 to 8.
In the second, the Cats increased their cushion with 2 more scores. The Bobcat D forced a 3 and out series. It was followed by a 59 yard TD scamper by Ryan Ragsdale. Bryner tacked on the xtra point and with 10:33 left in the half, the hosts led 28 to 8. A big punt by the Tigers on the ensuing possession pinned the Cats on their one yard line. A long run by Bryner of 62 yards gave the Cats the ball inside the 10 yard line. From there, Payne powered his way in for another Cat score. The play covered 9 yard and with 7:17 on the clock, Hemingford was out in front 34 to 8. A sack by Payne on East Butler ‘s final drive ended the half with the Cats ahead by 28
East Butler got the ball first in the third and had success. The visitors used a big pass play to get in striking distance. A one yard TD run made it 34 to 14. The extra point was no good thanks to a strong stop by Miller. Hemingford went right back to their solid run play of their following drive. Tough runs by Payne and Zaine Feist pushed the ball into Tiger territory. At the 3:40 mark, Feist ended the series by scoring from the 8 yard line . The point after was no good as the hosts surged ahead 40 to 14. In the Bobcat’s last drive of the period, good gains by Bryner and Payne got the Cats close. An eight yard TD pass to Jayce Haas extended the Bobcat lead. Feist added the PAT and the quarter came to a close with Hemingford up 48 to 14.
Two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter put the game away. After a stop by the Cat D, Hemingford got more big yards by Feist to set up another score. Again it was Bryner finding Jayce Haas for 6 more. The play went 11 yards with under 8 minutes left to play. Ragsdale added the extra point as the hosts went up 56 to 14. A turnover by the Tigers then gave the ball right back to the Cats on the 15 yard line. The game’s final tally came on a 15 yard TD score by Carson Haas. Lucas Sulzbach carried in the pat. Final Hemingford 64. East Butler 14
EB 8 0 6 0 14
HEM 20 14 14 16 64
Stats. Rushing Bryner 18 carries 142 yards 1 TD. Payne 12 attempts 83 yards 1 TD. Feist 7 rushes 43 yards 1 TD. Ragsdale 4 attempts 60 yards 1 TD Passing Bryner 7 completions 134 yards 4 tds Jayce Haas 3 tds. Tayten Haas 1 TD.
Hemingford will host Stanton on Friday.