Norfolk Catholic survives tough road test in battle of unbeatens
BATTLE CREEK - The battle of #1 and #2 lived up to the billing, even with a delay of over an hour and a half.
Class C2 #1 Norfolk Catholic held off #2 Battle Creek on the road Friday, 24-19. The game was stopped in the first quarter due to severe thunderstorms, preventing the game from restarting until 9:30 p.m. local time.
Once the game restarted, C2's top two traded scores, with the Braves' running attack - anchored by Husker-commit Trent Uhlir - matched yard-for-yard by the Knights' aerial assault, keyed by senior Carter Janssen.
A series of bad snaps and penalties caused late Battle Creek drives to stall, but the Braves were gifted a chance to win the game late when Blake Borchers intercepted Janssen with a minute to go.
But three plays later, Norfolk Catholic's Trevin Sukup intercepted Battle Creek junior QB Jaxon Mettler to seal the win.
The Knights helped coach Jeff Bellar to his 399th career win. He could become the first 400-game winner in Nebraska history next Friday at home against Ponca.
SCORING SUMMARY
NORFOLK CATHOLIC (6-0) - 3 14 0 7 - 24
BATTLE CREEK (5-1) - 6 7 6 0 - 19
1ST QUARTER
5:37 - Max Hammond (NC) 31-yd FG
1:58 - Trent Uhlir (BC) 50-yd TD pass to Cameron Korth (XP blocked)
2ND QUARTER
9:18 - Carter Janssen (NC) 17-yd TD pass to Nathan Timmerman (XP good)
6:28 - Trent Uhlir (BC) 9-yd TD run (XP good)
0:43 - Brandon Kollars (NC) 11-yd TD run (XP good)
3RD QUARTER
10:03 - Jaxon Mettler (BC) 26-yd TD run (XP blocked)
4TH QUARTER
11:54 - Carter Janssen (NC) 35-yd TD pass to Aiden Kosch (XP good)
STATS
NORFOLK CATHOLIC
RUSHING
- Carter Janssen: 10 carries, 75 yds
- Brandon Kollars: 8 carries, 54 yds, 1 TD
- Nathan Timmerman: 3 carries, 18 yds
- Trevin Sukup: 4 carries, 1 yd
- Max Hammond: 2 carries, 1 yd
- Hayden Kelley: 1 carry, 1 yd
PASSING
- Carter Janssen: 15-of-17, 197 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
RECEIVING
- Nathan Timmerman: 4 rec, 63 yds, 1 TD
- Hayden Kelley: 3 rec, 25 yds
- Max Hammond: 3 rec, 24 yds
- Sam Speidel: 2 rec, 21 yds
- Aiden Kosch: 1 rec, 35 yds, 1 TD
- Clayton Carney: 1 rec, 21 yds
- Trevin Sukup: 1 rec, 8 yds
BATTLE CREEK
RUSHING
- Trent Uhlir: 15 carries, 177 yds, 1 TD
- Jaxon Mettler: 15 carries, 76 yds, 1 TD
- Landon Weinandt: 2 rec, 5 yds
PASSING
- Jaxon Mettler: 5-of-13, 64 yds, 2 INT
- Trent Uhlir: 1-of-1, 50 yds, 1 TD
RECEIVING
- Cameron Korth: 4 rec, 76 yds, 1 TD
- Landon Weinandt: 1 rec, 15 yds
- Blake Borchers: 1 rec, 23 yds