BEATRICE, Neb. - Despite a stretch of losing seasons, through incremental improvements, hard work and the ability to stay in games, Head Coach Jeff Kezeor believes Beatrice Orangemen football can take strides this season.

“It just feels a little different his year,” Kezeor said. “We’re really excited for what’s to come, our numbers are up, and there’s just good buzz in the air.”

The Orangemen won just one game in 2024, that win coming in week two against the Crete Cardinals. Over the past three seasons, Beatrice seniors like running back and linebacker Merrick Johnson and lineman Grayson Cline have seen just a 3-15 record.

That’s all the motivation they need.


“I despise losing, so it’s kind of sucked,” Johnson said. “But it’s pushed some of us seniors to work in the weight room to get there and we all want to win and get back to that town spot.”

“Us being disappointed as a group, we stay together, we don’t pass blame… We just go out there and try hard for our bothers,” Cline said.

Beatrice’s offense will be led by junior Boston Crawford at quarterback. With one year under his belt as a sophomore, Crawford says he’s better prepared for the upcoming season.

He also sees the offense as multi-faceted.

“I think our line, sophomores from last year, have gotten a lot stronger so I think the run game can be way better,” Crawford said. “I think the passing game has also gotten a lot better and we have some wideouts who have high football IQ so I think we’ll be able to pass the ball a bit more this year and I’ll have more time in the pocket.”

One of the big keys for Kezeor this season is Beatrice’s ability to stay competitive for four quarters.

“When you break down a lot of those games, we really lost it in the middle late,” Kezeor said. “The last four minutes of the first half, first four minutes of the second half, that’s our goal… Last year, it hurt u, we got tired, we didnt have the depth, but this year we do.”