North Bend Central wins at Stanton

The North Bend Central Football Team won 48-28 at Stanton Friday night.

Here is Head Coach Ryan Stieren's recap of the game:

A little bit of a wild beginning as Stanton onside kicked and got it. We stopped them on 4th down and then drove all the way inside the 5 but got stopped on 4th down. However, Stanton fumbled right away to give us the ball back deep in their territory, we capitalized with a TD pass from Austin Endorf to Breckin Peters. We scored again on a 14 yard run by Ethan Mullally. After that it was a back and forth game with us scoring right before half on a 30 yard TD pass from Austin Endorf to Austin Taylor to make it 27-12 at the half.

In the second half, Stanton went on a 12 play but fumbled inside their own 10 yard line. We took over and Ethan Mullally took a handoff 80 yards for a TD. After that it was back and forth game before we iced it with a 50 yard TD pass from Austin Endorf to Breckin Peters.

Offensively, Ethan Mullally rushed for 194 yards and 2 TDs. Austin Endorf was 17-19 for 254 yards 3 TDs and 0 int. Breckin Peters led our receiving corp with 7 catches for 133 yards and 3 TDs. Defensively, we were led by Gavin Peterson with 13 tackles and Ian Virka with 8 tackles.

North Bend Central had 544 yards of total offense, including 290 on the ground, while the defense gave up 344 yards of total offense, including 329 rushing.

Stieren says it's a huge accomplishment to beat the Mustangs. "Stanton is a difficult team to prepare for because of their offensive and defensive schemes. Also, their kids compete really hard and make you earn it so I am proud of our kids. Offensively, we were really clicking and made a lot of explosive plays. Defensively, we struggled at times but I give them a lot of credit because they had a good plan and it is very difficult to prepare for the type of stuff that they do."

It's a battle of undefeated teams in North Bend Friday night as the Tigers (3-0) host Grand Island Central Catholic (3-0).

The Crusaders won 28-7 at home over North Platte St. Pat's Friday night.

GICC is 3-0, but the teams they've beaten are a combined 0-9.

I like the Tigers to beat the Crusaders for the second year in a row, especially cause they're at home and an improved team from last year.

Stieren says it should be a good game. "GICC is going to be a battle. Last year, we had to make a lot of plays at key junctures in the game to escape. I believe that we are improved in all 3 phases but I believe that they are too."

If North Bend Central continues to play the way they have I think they'll be just fine.

This is the first real test of the season for the Tigers as the schedule definitely has its challenges from here on out.

I think we'll find out just how good North Bend Central really is in the coming weeks.

I feel the Tigers are the real deal no doubt, and a win over the Crusaders would be really big once again this season.

North Bend Central's District is shaping up to be a really tough one so the Tigers really need this game.

GICC will definitely have confidence that they can win though since NBC went into their house and won last year.

The Tigers definitely have their work cut out for them in this one, but I think North Bend Central will find a way to win.

I feel this game could be close or the Tigers could win it by a couple of touchdowns.

I'm going to say North Bend Central wins by like 10 or something of that nature.

It's hard to really gauge these teams based on scores and uncommon opponents so I could definitely be wrong and off.

The Tigers won last year's game 41-37 in a wild one so we'll see what North Bend Central does for an encore this year.