Breaking down the Class C-1 final
No. 1 The experience factor isn’t as big as it might seem: Pierce is the defending champion but the Bluejays returned just three starters. Boys Town is in its first playoff title game, but QB Isiah Gandy was a starter on the Cowboys’ state championship basketball team. “This is probably the most challenging year of my career, but because of the team coming around, it’s also the most rewarding,” said Pierce coach Mark Brahmer. “We lost just about everyone from last year and we had some injuries. Eric (Koehlmoos) missed about five games with a hamstring injury. He’s not full speed and he still hits like a brick. In the semifinals, he had four ‘Bobby Boucher’ (from the movie ‘Water Boy’) hits. That’s what we call layout hits and we give them a bottle of water.”
No. 2 Battle of the quarterbacks: Gandy is the Boys Town field general, and has thrown for 1,133 yards. Tony Lauters spearheads the Pierce attack, and has thrown for 578 yards and run for 860. “Tony was our spark plug last year. When Eric got hurt, he stepped up and has played well for us,” Brahmer said. For the Cowboys, Gandy made a quick study at QB after running cross country as a sophomore. “He has a natural throwing motion and is even-keeled,” said Boys Town coach Kevin Kush. “The kids see that he’s steady and has command of the huddle. And he throws a pretty high percentage, around 63 percent on the year.”
No. 3 Fundamentals will be a key: Both coaches emphasized eliminating mistakes like penalties and turnovers. “They are so physical on defense. Koehlmoos is an impact player, but I think he does more damage at free safety than carrying the ball,” Kush said. “If he’s lost anything (from the injury), I sure don’t notice it.” Brahmer said Boys Town also presents problems. “They’re scary-good. They look kind of mean, they look tough and they’re well-coached.”
— Ryly Jane Hambleton
No. 2 Battle of the quarterbacks: Gandy is the Boys Town field general, and has thrown for 1,133 yards. Tony Lauters spearheads the Pierce attack, and has thrown for 578 yards and run for 860. “Tony was our spark plug last year. When Eric got hurt, he stepped up and has played well for us,” Brahmer said. For the Cowboys, Gandy made a quick study at QB after running cross country as a sophomore. “He has a natural throwing motion and is even-keeled,” said Boys Town coach Kevin Kush. “The kids see that he’s steady and has command of the huddle. And he throws a pretty high percentage, around 63 percent on the year.”
No. 3 Fundamentals will be a key: Both coaches emphasized eliminating mistakes like penalties and turnovers. “They are so physical on defense. Koehlmoos is an impact player, but I think he does more damage at free safety than carrying the ball,” Kush said. “If he’s lost anything (from the injury), I sure don’t notice it.” Brahmer said Boys Town also presents problems. “They’re scary-good. They look kind of mean, they look tough and they’re well-coached.”
— Ryly Jane Hambleton
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