Courtesy of Midland Athletics
HASTINGS, Neb. – A strong fourth-quarter rally put Midland University in position for a game-winning drive, but, Hastings College held on for the 37-32 win on Saturday at Lloyd Wilson Field. Each year, Midland and Hastings play for the Watchorn/McLaughlin Trophy, which is named after the former legendary coaches and athletic directors at each institution; Don Watchorn (Midland) and Tom McLaughlin (Hastings). After Midland possessed the trophy for the last seven years, Hastings reoccupied it with Saturday’s Great Plains Athletics Conference (GPAC) win, defeating the Warriors for the first time since 2015.
The Broncos received the game’s opening kickoff, but the Warriors’ defense held them to a three-and-out, forcing a punt. Midland took over the ball at their 36-yard line and on the first offense play of the game, quarterback Jacob Jones connected with Kalynd Coats on a 64-yard touchdown pass. Jared Quinonez booted in the extra point, and Midland led 7-0 with 13:13 remaining in the first quarter.
Hastings got the offense going on its second drive of the game. The Broncos converted a pair of third-down plays and capped off a 10-play, 60-yard drive with a 36-yard field goal by Casper Feijen with 8:14 remaining in the quarter.
The next three offensive possessions resulted in a three-and-out for both teams, two by Midland and one by the Broncos. After a Zach Hodge punt, Hastings started a drive at its own 20-yard line with 3:57 remaining in the opening quarter. Five plays into the drive, the Broncos converted a fourth down and two, when quarterback Carson Kudlacek completed an 11-yard pass to Jaishawn Wright for a first down at the 25-yard line. Three plays later, Kudlacek connected with Ethan Wilborn for a 23-yard touchdown, to give the Broncos the lead. Feijan’s extra point made it 10-7, with 59 seconds left in the first quarter.
Tyson Denkert carried the ball twice for Midland before the quarter came to an end with Hastings holding on to the three-point advantage.
The second quarter began with both teams’ defenses controlling the game. Midland punted to conclude the quarter’s opening drive, then both teams exchanged punts on their next four possessions.
The Broncos ran a six-play drive to conclude the first half and took a 10-7 lead into the break.
Midland received the second-half kickoff and after a touchback, started their drive at the 25-yard line. Six plays into the drive, Jones connected with Coats for a touchdown pass and catch of 35 yards. The second scoring connection between the teammates through the air put Midland back in front. Quinonez’s point-after attempt failed and Midland led 13-10 with 11:53 remaining in the third quarter.
The Warriors defense forced Hastings into a three-and-out on its next drive. After a short punt of just 14 yards, Midland took over the ball at the Broncos’ 45-yard line. The Warriors’ offense was unable to capitalize, as a Jacob Jones‘ fourth-down pass to Coats fell incomplete, giving Hastings the ball back at the 39-yard line.
At that point, the momentum of the game shifted. Hastings scored on a quick three-play drive as Kudlacek connected with Wright on a 51-yard touchdown pass to make it 16-13, after Feijan’s extra point attempt missed, with 7:41 left in the third quarter.
Midland pushed the ball into Hastings’ territory on the ensuing drive but stalled on the fifth play of the march when Jones rushed the ball on fourth down, getting caught up four yards behind the line to gain, handing the ball back to the Broncos. Hastings capitalized again, with an eight-play scoring drive. On fourth down and 10 at the Midland 32-yard line, Kudlacek connected with Wright for a 22-yard completion and a new set of downs at the Warriors’ 10-yard line. On the very next play, Will Austin ran the ball into the endzone. Feijan’s extra point put Hastings ahead 23-13 with 2:31 remaining in the third quarter.
The Warriors were held to three plays on its next drive and were forced to punt. The Broncos took over at its own 29-yard line and ran three plays before the quarter ended, with the score still in favor of the home team, 23-13.
On the third play of the fourth quarter, Kudlacek found Wilborn open for a touchdown pass for the second time in the game. The 32-yard score put the Broncos ahead, 30-13 following Feijan’s extra point.
Midland began its fourth-quarter comeback attempt on the following drive. Five plays into the possession, Jones rushed the ball into the endzone from a yard out. Quinonez’s extra point failed, and with 12:07 remaining, Hastings clung to a 30-19 lead.
The Warriors’ defense held Hastings to a three-and-out on the next drive, forcing a punt, and taking over the ball at the Midland 47-yard line. On the second play of the drive, Jones fumbled the ball. Hastings’ Fareed Soluade scooped it up and returned it 74 yards for a touchdown. The Feijan extra point put Hastings up 37-19 with 11:00 minutes remaining in the game.
After the ensuing kickoff, Midland put together a seven-play 68-yard scoring drive that culminated in a 28-yard touchdown pass to Coats from Jones. They attempted a two-point conversion, but a rush by Jones failed, making it 37-25 in favor of the Broncos with 8:19 to play.
Needing to get the ball back, the Midland defense stepped up again, forcing another three-and-out. After the Hastings punt, the Warriors began their next drive at Hastings’ 47-yard line with 6:22 remaining. On the first play of the drive, Jones connected with Coats on another touchdown pass, their third scoring connection of the game. Quinonez’s extra point made it a one-score game, 37-32, with 6:12 left in the contest.
Once more the Warriors’ defense was called upon and once more it delivered, holding Hastings to another three-and-out. After the Broncos’ punt, Midland had the ball at their 24-yard line with 3:59 to play. This time, the Hastings defense was stifling and after three plays, Midland was forced to punt the ball back to the Broncos. After a kick-catching interference penalty, Hastings began its next drive at the 30-yard line with 2:56 left on the clock. Hastings ran six plays and faced a fourth and one at the Midland 49-yard line with 1:41 remaining. With the Warriors out of timeouts, instead of trying to pick up the first down and run out the clock, the Broncos punted, giving the ball back to the Warriors with limited time left. Four plays into the drive, Midland faced a second down and one at their 42-yard line with 49 seconds remaining. Jones’ long pass down the field, intended for Coats, was intercepted by Hastings’ Colton Marsh at the 25-yard line. That turnover sealed the game as the Broncos’ went to a knee on the next play, running out the clock, and handing the Warriors a 37-32 defeat.
Midland (6-5, 5-5 GPAC) rushed the ball 38 times for 152 yards. They were 12-of-29 throwing the ball on the afternoon for 286 yards. The Warriors ran a total of 67 plays for 438 yards of offense.
Hastings (5-5, 4-5 GPAC) carried the ball 36 times for 70 yards. In the passing game, they completed 25 of 43 attempts for 333 yards. The Broncos ran a total of 79 plays for 403 yards of offense.
Individually, Tyson Denkert carried the ball 19 times for 81 yards. Jacob Jones had 16 carries for a total of 62 yards and a touchdown. Through the air, Jones completed 12-of-29 passes for 286 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception. Kalynd Coats led the Warriors in receiving. He hauled in five passes for 175 yards and four touchdowns.
The Broncos were led in rushing by quarterback Carson Kudlacek. He carried the ball 18 times for 49 yards. Will Austin had one carry that went for a 10-yard touchdown. Kudlacek completed 25-of-43 passes for 333 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Eli Nappe led the Broncos in receiving. He caught eight passes for 140 yards. Jaishawn Wright recorded five receptions for 85 yards and a touchdown. Ethan Wilborn caught three passes for 67 yards and two scores.
Midland was led on defense by Xavier Green. The senior ended his final game as a Warrior with nine tackles, one for a loss of six yards. Burton Brandt recorded seven tackles, including a half of a tackle for a loss of one yard. Jay Ballard had seven tackles and one pass breakup. Dane Christensen had seven tackles. He recorded one sack for five yards and had five tackles for loss, totaling 17 yards. Gabriel VanWinkle had five tackles, one and a half for a loss of two yards. Treden Davis-Reed had four tackles, including one sack for 12 yards. Zane Stenger recorded two tackles and had two pass breakups. Uiti Moe ended with two tackles, one of which was a sack of seven yards. Robert Vega, Jr. had one tackle and one pass breakup. Viliami Makoni had one tackle which went for a loss of five yards.
The Broncos’ defense was led by Jayden Roberts with 11 tackles. Fareed Soluade recorded 10 stops and recovered a fumble which was returned 74 yards for a touchdown. Marcus Dustin had eight tackles and two pass breakups. Arjee Mack-Myers had seven tackles, half a sack for three yards, plus a pass breakup. Colton Marsh recorded six stops, plus an interception. Gavin White had three tackles, half a sack for four yards, and one and a half total tackles for a loss of seven yards. Gunnar Ogle recorded one tackle, which went for a loss of two yards. Jaylen McCall and Gio Mendoza both had two pass breakups in the afternoon.
Hastings will wrap up its schedule with a 1:00 p.m. contest next Saturday at Doane. Midland ends its season 6-5 overall and 5-5 in the GPAC. With a winning percentage above .500, the Warriors’ football program has had a winning season in all eight years during head coach Jeff Jamrog’s tenure. In two weeks, the GPAC All-Conference Teams will be announced.
