Sterling gets physical in win over FCSH

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BY RYLY JANE HAMBLETON / Lincoln Journal Star

FALLS CITY — Brandon Nieveen said the power up front made all the difference in the world.

Nieveen followed his offensive linemen for 124 yards and a pair of touchdowns and he cherry-picked his way on a pair of interceptions to help Sterling earn a 42-8 victory against Falls City Sacred Heart on Saturday at Jug Brown Stadium.

“Everybody was getting their blocks tonight and nobody was letting down the entire game,” Nieveen said. “And on defense, everyone has certain responsibilities. Mine is pass protection, but if the quarterback goes on an option, I’ve got him.

“We’ve been doing well all year with getting turnovers and not giving up the ball. “We caused more than we turned over. We controlled the game.”

Sacred Heart coach Doug Goltz agreed.

“They were just too physical up front. We didn’t block very well and they had a lot to do with it,” he said. “There were some times we had to capitalize, like on the early possession. We should have scored, but they held us. We had chances, but we didn’t execute.”

The Irish appeared poised to take an early lead after Reed Barnhill broke a 62-yard run around the right side to the Sterling 2-yard line. But Sterling backed up the Irish on two running plays and, after an incomplete pass, Sacred Heart lined up for a 27-yard field-goal attempt by Dusty Metzner. Holder Joe Santo pulled up and shoveled the ball to Barnhill, but he couldn’t get into the end zone

The Jets responded with a 75-yard drive. After Jacob Saathoff connected with Shane Benson for a 19-yard gain, Nieveen took a pitch around the left end. He picked up 13 yards before he fumbled. Teammate Kyle Lowmack scooped up the ball and raced in for the score.

Nieveen’s first interception set up Sterling’s next drive, which he capped with a 13-yard run.

Another Sacred Heart turnover led to another Jets score a minute and a half later. Dalton Dreesen pounced on a fumble at the Irish 25. Three plays later, Nieveen took a pitch and then threw a 20-yard scoring pass to Lowmack.

“They overpower you at times. They have that big fullback leading the toss and if you get that going, the halfback pass is there and the counter,” Goltz said, referring to 215-pounder Zach Lempka, who rushed for 64 yards. “They were too tough up front for us.”

Sacred Heart cut the deficit to 18-8 when Santo found Barnhill for a 34-yard score and then ran in for the conversion.

But Sterling answered with a 4-minute, nine-play drive. Saathoff went in from the 1 on a sneak, then hooked up with William Wirthele for the conversion and a 26-8 lead.

Santo picked up a first down with one second left in the half with an 18-yard fourth-down run, but Nieveen thwarted the last-second heroics when he got his second interception.

Sterling added a safety when the ball was snapped over Irish punter Jake Shafer’s head through the end zone. After Lempka recovered an Irish fumble, the Jets increased their lead to 34-8 on a 24-yard pass from Saathoff to Lowmack. Nieveen raced 44 yards for the final score in the fourth quarter.

“Sacred Heart runs the spread about as good as anybody and I was concerned about it, but our kids picked up the tendencies well and we had it covered,” said Sterling coach Arlo Wusk. “I know we had a number of quarterback sacks and even more hurries and we got two picks. Any time you can do that to a quality quarterback like Santo, things are going to end up in your favor.”

Wusk said the Jets’ offensive line had a good night, helping Sterling to 357 total yards.

“Sacred Heart put six in the box, so when we did pass the ball, sparingly, it was pretty successful,” Wusk said. “Plus, we turned turnovers into points and that takes its toll on the other team.”

Reach Ryly Jane Hambleton at 473-7314 or rhambleton@journalstar.com.