Class C-1 Final: Pierce repeats as state champ

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By RYLY JANE HAMBLETON / Lincoln Journal Star

All Mark Brahmer wanted was a short pickup.

“We wanted to get a first down and move the chains and keep the clock running,” said the Pierce coach. “We thought their corners were giving us enough cushion that we could run a little six-yard hitch route.

Brody Unger got that – and an additional 80 yards – to help lift Pierce seal a 20-10 victory over Boys Town on Saturday in the Class C-1 state football championship at Memorial Stadium.

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Pierce's Lee Krohn (70) attempts to tackle Boys Town ball carrier Kevin Barrett (32) during the first half of the Class C-1 Championship game. (Gwyneth Roberts)

Pierce's Lee Krohn (70) attempts to tackle Boys Town ball carrier Kevin Barrett (32) during the first half of the Class C-1 Championship game. (Gwyneth Roberts)

Unger leaped for the pass from Tony Lauters, just beyond the first-down marker and then took off for his 86-yard score.

“I don’t really know what happened. We just wanted to get the first down. I just started running the ball, broke one tackle and went home from there,” said Unger, a senior who had four catches for 120 yards. “I was running out of breath. I thought they were going to catch me, but they never did.”

That score just added the exclamation point after the Pierce defense thwarted a Boys Town rally.

The Cowboys, trailing 13-10, marched from their 6-yard line to the Pierce 8. Kevin Barrett ripped off a 20-yard run, Isiah Gandy found Erskin Williams for a 40-yard pickup and then Derick Brooks made a great catch on fourth down to keep the drive alive.

But when Gandy took off on a bootleg run to the fight, Eric Koehlmoos knocked the ball out and Blake Stonacek pounced on it for the Bluejays.

“We had a chance to go in and win it there. But they got a fumble with a hard hit and that’s a credit to them,” said Boys Town coach Kevin Kush. “You have to give credit to Pierce’s defense. At times we had the answer for it and then we’d take a loss. They came up and made plays when they had to and that was the key to the whole game.”

Brahmer said that play was pivotal.

“We were fortunate to get that turnover because they were moving it and we were kind of back on our heels a little bit,” he said. “We just reminded the kids somebody would step up and make a play.”

Boys Town took a 7-0 lead after dominating the first quarter. The Cowboys had 106 yards of total offense while Pierce had just eight and had run only six plays.

But the Bluejays found their rhythm and drove 66 yards in 11 plays to tie the game when Eric Koehlmoos score on a 4-yard run.

Pierce took the lead just before halftime when Kyle Stuchlik scored. Unger’s extra point hit the upright and bounced away.

“I don’t think anybody gave us a chance in that game. We played the underdog role,” said Brahmer. “We’ve continually improved throughout the year, especially after we got our teeth knocked in against Norfolk Catholic (34-3).

“Once we got Eric back in the first round of the playoffs, that gave us a boost and gave us an extra weapon.”

Koehlmoos, who rushed for 1,326 yards to lead the Bluejays to the title last year, missed five games with a hamstring injury.

“It was tough Eric had to go out, but he did what he needed to do to get back when it counted,” said Lauters. “Our other backs did a heck of a job stepping up to replace Eric.”

Brahmer said Lauters’ play at quarterback was big reason for the Bluejays’ victory.

“With their size and strength, we were going to have to run veer option,” said Brahmer. “With that, you can eliminate one of their big, strong players without even having to block him by just reading him with the quarterback.

“We ran true triple option and Tony does a great job. I think he read every one of them right the entire day. That helped us move the chains.”

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