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Cedar will host Tekamah-Herman for Homecoming

HARTINGTON — The Hartington-Newcastle home football opener against Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family was canceled Friday when the Wildcats were confirmed to have a positive case of COVID-19 within the Wildcats roster.

Head coach Cory Uldrich said the decision by the NSAA to cancel the game came due to the Wildcats having the positive test within the team and it was canceled due to a “recommendation from the health department.”

Uldrich did not expand on how things shape up this week when the Wildcats are scheduled to travel to West Holt Friday night.

The NSAA website did not list the game as potentially canceled.

Cedar Catholic battles overtime for big win

The Cedar Catholic Trojans are 2-0 on the young season, but it is possible they might want a little more credit.

That’s because the Trojans battled into overtime to beat nemesis Battle Creek, 24-21, on a 22-yard field goal by Blake Arens to win it in the extra session.

“I honestly don’t know the last time we had an overtime game or won one for that matter,” CCHS head coach Chad Cattau said. “I thought we made a lot of improvements from week one. Our kids’ effort and energy level were at a very high level throughout the game. With the 3 p.m. kickoff in 90-degree heat, we really had to battle a lot of cramps throughout the game, especially in the second half.

“Our kids kept plugging away and other kids stepped up when we had certain players on the sideline. We added some new concepts to our defense during the week and I thought we executed them pretty well overall. Some of the kids were being asked to do things they have rarely, if ever, had to do during a game so it was a bit of a mental grind during the week.”

Easton Becker had a big game gaining 181 yards on 34 carries and he scored two Trojan touchdowns, while QB Tate Thoene threw for 57 yards and rushed for 71 yards and the other score.

Becker’s runs came from 14 and two yards, while Thoene’s was a 10-yard scamper. Battle Creek’s Reece Bode ran for 205 yards on 31

Battle Creek’s Reece Bode ran for 205 yards on 31 carries and scored all three of his team’s touchdowns, including a 2-yarder with 4:26 left to ultimately set up the overtime.

“Offensively, we were able to have some nice balance in what we were wanting to do,” Cattau said. “We ran between the tackles and also were able to get some big plays on the perimeter. We probably didn’t throw the ball as much as we had planned going into the game, but we were having success on the ground so we stuck with those concepts for the most part. When we did throw it, we made enough plays to keep their defense honest.

“It’s really helped us this year that Tate has a year of experience under his belt at quarterback. He has been making better decisions in terms of throwing the ball away or running it when he doesn’t have receivers open.”

Special teams came up big, with all three PATS made, the field goal, and a block of a Battle Creek extra point.

“I just really have to give a lot of credit to how hard the kids played all day long,” Cattau said. “It was a grueling game on them physically because of how hard Battle Creek plays and also because of the weather. I know everyone was exhausted by the end. It’s one of those wins that makes you really appreciate how much this group has stressed their conditioning that we do each day in practice.”

The Trojans will aim for 3-0 with a 6:30 p.m. contest at home against Tekamah-Herman (1-1).

“I honestly don’t know if we have ever played Tekamah-Herman before,” Cattau said. “I know we haven’t since I have been here so this will be a unique experience for our kids. It’s always fun to prepare for and play someone that you don’t typically see. They will run a lot of option stuff on offense. They don’t run a lot of formations so what they do run, they have learned to execute well.

“Our kids will need to play with a lot of focus because they will be playing specific assignments against their option attack. They also will spread us out and throw it some to give themselves some balance.”

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