Home > Sports > Prep Extra > Football
Bookmark Us   •   Make Us Your Homepage

Class B Final: Aurora tops Beatrice

Comments 11 comment(s)  
E-mail Story E-mail Story
Print Story Print Story
Share  Share
Text Size: 
Tools Sponsor

BY KEN HAMBLETON / Lincoln Journal Star

Saturday, Nov 22, 2008 - 11:52:07 pm CST

Jerry Lobeda had nothing better to do than slam into Beatrice standout Justin Coleman, preventing another pass completion and ending the threat to Aurora’s lead with less than two minutes left in the game.

“I didn’t mind hitting him with everything I had,” Lobeda said. “Everybody else on our team was making plays.”

Lobeda sent Coleman spinning and helped Aurora to corral a 20-14 victory over Beatrice in the Class B state football championship game Saturday night at Memorial Stadium.

Story Photo
Aurora's Jerry Lobeda (12) breaks a tackle from Beatrice's Jason Schwisow during Saturday's Class B championship game. JACOB HANNAH

Beatrice had just scored on a dizzying drive that included passes of 18 and 22 yards from Phil McClure to Coleman. The Orangemen set up the touchdown on a high pass to Coleman that the senior leaped and grabbed with one hand at the Aurora 6-yard line.

One play later, Garrett Bruhn scored his second touchdown of the game to cut the Aurora lead to six.

Then, after Beatrice stopped the Huskies and two passes from McClure to Coleman moved the ball to the Aurora 41 with 1:53 left, two procedure penalties and three incomplete passes had Beatrice facing fourth down and 12.

McClure went to Coleman again and that’s when Lobeda sent Coleman flying.

“Our defense really did a great job all game,” said Aurora quarterback Tyler McDonald, who ran for 134 yards and two touchdowns and passed for another 110 yards.

McDonald’s command of the Aurora option helped him cap an 84-yard scoring drive on a 29-yard run with 11:45 left in the game. His completions of 32 yards and 26 yards sparked a drive that ended with Lobeda’s two-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. McDonald’s option calls helped the Huskies score at the end of a 14-play, 94-yard drive on Aurora’s first possession of the game.

“Our option works because our line works,” said McDonald. “I just followed A-Rod (6-6, 310-pound Andrew Rodriguez), and got another block from Nathan Suck on that last touchdown.”

Beatrice coach Bob Sexton said Aurora changed its option attack in the second half, allowing the offensive tackle to take out the inside linebacker and that caused his team trouble.

Offensively, Sexton said, “We picked a bad night to not execute well. We had too many breakdowns on offense — on fourth and inches, third and short — and too many botched snaps, too many penalties. I think that’s because our kids were trying so hard. I don’t think they could have worked harder.”

Coleman, who finished with 86 yards passing, 88 yards receiving, 42 yards rushing and 53 yards in kick returns, was the focus for the Aurora defense, Aurora coach Randy Huebert said.

“We were afraid of his ability to take over a game,” he said. “I thought we did a pretty good job of not letting him have all the big plays. And, in turn, we got some big plays of our own.”

McDonald provided most of the fireworks on offense. He had six runs of more than 10 yards and completed key passes in all three Aurora scoring drives.

He said his team was ready to play its best, as it had each week since losing to McCook 42-7 in September. Last week, Aurora stunned the Nebraska high school world with an upset of the Bison in the semifinals.

“I didn’t hear any talk about the fact we had emptied the tank when we beat McCook last week in the semifinals,” McDonald said.

“All I heard was that we could do this.”

Reach Ken Hambleton at 473-7313 or khambleton@journalstar.com.


$1 Sunday Delivery - Subscribe Today!
Football > Back to Top of Story

Post Your Comment

Standards and Rules
All posts to JournalStar.com are subject to our Terms and Standards.
Your posted comment will appear after it has been approved.
Frequently asked questions about story commenting.
(optional)
   
Hide Comments Hide Comments   Newest First Newest First  
Gary and Sally Sayler wrote on November 23, 2008 9:08 am:
" Congratulations, Coach Huebert and team! "

 Fan wrote on November 23, 2008 3:40 pm:
" Aurora outplayed Beatrice all the way. Am I happy about it, no. My grandson is on the Beatrice team, but Coach Sexton deserved to lose! Beatrice kept throwing the ball to Coleman instead of to someone who was wide open! Coleman is the super star and Beatrice lost! "

 Get a Clue wrote on November 23, 2008 6:55 pm:
" How can you say Beatrice only threw the ball to Coleman. I think they spread the ball around to alot of different players last night. 5 or 6 kids had catches in that game, Rivers had the most catches I think. How can you say a coach deserves to loose? The coaching staff at Beatrice is probably the best in class B. What the football program has done the last four years is one of the most impressive accomplishments of any sport in Beatrice history. I hope that the negative comments of a few people in Beatrice don't cause us to loose Coach Sexton or some of his assistants to other jobs where people appreciate winning and coaching with class. Loosing any of our staff because of your type of comments would be disgrace to our community. Orangemen, ignore the people who want to bring you down this town is behind you and your coaches 100%. GREAT SEASON! "

 steve wrote on November 23, 2008 7:49 pm:
" Concrats to Beatrice, Great job.
I think it's all the talented kids out there and not the coaches. Talent wins games and coaches lose them. We had a lot of talent in "85" we went to the state play-offs just to get beat by Omaha Central in class A. They have nothing to be ahamed of GREAT JOB KIDS "

 Fan wrote on November 23, 2008 8:46 pm:
" It is true that several other players were wide open a couple of times, but still the ball was thrown to Coleman. You only need to look at the DVD of the game to see this. It is very apparent. I wanted the Orangemen to win since I have two nephews on the team, but I wanted the win for the team not the coaches. "

 Get a Clue wrote on November 23, 2008 9:32 pm:
" Everyone wanted the win for the players. But to say a coach that works as hard as Sexton, deserved to loose crosses the line. Also when looking at a DVD and seeing somebody open you have to take into account that a QB can't see the whole field and was often times under pressure from those giant linemen. Beatrice has great players and coaches, I just felt that the first comment was really a bad way to finish a great season. Finishing as State Runner -up and the best team in school history is a great way for this group of players to finish high school football. Great job Orangemen. "

 Another B Fan wrote on November 24, 2008 11:20 am:
" To Get a Clue: Everyone knows that the qb is told by the coaches who to throw the ball to!!! Come on, get a clue! "

 Proudplayer wrote on November 24, 2008 4:50 pm:
" As a player on this seasons Orangemen football team, i can personally say that every player and coach did everything in their power to get us where we got and NONE of them deserved to lose. I honestly believe that the coaching staff at BHS is the best in the state. To comment on what was said about giving the ball to Justin Coleman. Look at all the AMAZING things he has done in clutch situations throughout his entire career. He truly is an extraordinary football player and teammate. I personally was very comfortable putting the game in his hands. I wish there could have been a different outcome, but it was still a great experience. It was an honor taking the field with Justin and the rest of the Orangemen every week, and is something i will never forget. Good luck next year underclassmen! GO BIG O! "

 bob wrote on November 24, 2008 8:08 pm:
" what day this week does all state football come out "

 Robert wrote on November 28, 2008 7:05 pm:
" Waverly Beat Beatrice Woot Woot! "

 Beatrice Player wrote on November 29, 2008 11:47 pm:
" Yea, we got beat by Waverly, who got beat by Skutt, who got beat by us. You point is? "

Ads by Yahoo!