The 11th-seeded Blair High School football team avenged a regular season loss to No. 6 Plattsmouth on Friday, advancing onto the quarterfinals of the Class B playoffs.
The 21-14 victory was the Bears’ first in postseason play since 2018. They are 6-4 this season, while the Blue Devils finished 7-3 in defeat.
“It’s always nice to get onto the next week and play in November,” coach Bryan Soukup said.
Senior Ben Holcomb scored the game-winning touchdown with 9:16 left in the fourth quarter, hauling in a 19-yard pass from quarterback Bode Soukup. Plattsmouth defenders questioned the score as the ball came loose late, but the referee’s decision gave BHS a 20-14 lead. Blaise Baughman’s extra-point kick pushed that lead to seven, too.
Earlier during the postseason game on the Blue Devils’ home turf, both Crayton Macholan and Baughman scored Blair touchdowns. Macholan’s first-quarter touchdown catch led to a 7-0 lead before Baughman’s 4-yard score in the third pushed the road team ahead 14-7.
“I can’t believe how we just overcame so many things,” coach Soukup said. “I’m so proud of the way some of these kids stepped up when we had guys get hurt.”
BHS next competes at third-seeded Omaha Skutt on Nov. 3 in the quarterfinals. The Skyhawks are 9-1 after a lopsided first-round victory against Omaha Gross.
For the full story on this game and additional photos, check out Tuesday’s edition of the Washington County Pilot-Tribune. Coverage will also appear online at enterprisepub.com/sports that same day.
