Whippets – ‘an extremely fast breed of dog, capable of reaching speeds up to 35 miles-per-hour.’
Apparently no match for a Cardinal in flight, however.
The Boone Central Cardinals opened the 2022 Class C1 Nebraska State Football playoffs Friday with a whirlwind 48-0 victory over Minden at the Boone Central athletic complex in Albion.
Minden, 6-3 and in the state playoffs for the first time since 2013, entered Friday’s first-round contest with, perhaps, a puncher’s chance against 2021 playoff quarterfinalist and #5 2022 seed Boone Central (7-2), hoping standout senior quarterback Carter Harsin could connect often enough with a group of talented receivers.
That hope flew out the window on the game’s first play from scrimmage.
On that initial snap, Boone’s senior all-state defensive end Jack Roberts stormed through intended protection and walloped Harsin as he threw the ball. Harsin’s head impacted with the turf and he was relegated to the sideline for the remainder of the game.
From there, the Whippets were left grasping and gasping as Boone Central scored five touchdowns on plays of 25 or more yards, including two of 85 yards.
Whippets may be fast. In this case, not fast enough.
With the Boone defense thoroughly dominating Minden’s offense and beleaguered backup quarterback Jake Ryan, and the Cardinal offense in sonic boom form, the outcome was never really in much doubt.
“The defense came out and played well from the start and the offense adjusted to Minden’s defensive plan after the opening series or two,” Boone Coach Mark Hudson acknowledged. “Their quarterback getting injured early was a big factor, but we still had to make stops, including a big goal line stop when the score was still only 7-0.
“Then, two running plays later it was 14-0 and the game was settled.”
Cardinal senior Alex Christo began Boone’s point fireworks with a 42-yard touchdown pass to Jack Roberts, concluding a 7-play, 71-yard drive with 3:05 remaining in the first quarter.
Buoyed by a 42-yard pass completion from Ryan to Seth Hauserman, Minden followed with its only real scoring threat of the contest. The Whippets drove to a first down at the Cardinal 12-yard line, but on 4th-and-3 at the five, Thomas Roberts wrapped up Ryan a yard short on a QB keeper.
Anyone who blinked an eye may have missed the next Cardinal score.
Parker Borer rambled 12 yards on first down to give Boone Central some breathing room. On the following play, the junior sprinter left Minden (and fans) breathless, bursting through the heart of the Whippets’ defense and setting sail on an 85-yard touchdown dash.
Boone added a 10-play, 48 yard scoring foray, capped by Borer’s six-yard run, for a 21-0 halftime lead.
The Cardinals would match that first-half point production in an explosive third quarter.
Further information and stats in Print & Online editions of Albion News/Boone County Tribune
