The 11th-seeded Blair High School football team took No. 3 Omaha Skutt to the brink of elimination Friday during the Class B quarterfinals.
The Bears jumped out to a 28-6 lead during the first quarter and held onto an advantage until just 12 seconds remained. The Skyhawks (10-1) won 30-28, though, with Morgan Finkenbinder knocking through the game-winning field goal at home.
“We gave ourselves a chance there, all the way through,” BHS coach Bryan Soukup said at the conclusion of a 6-5 season. “I'm just proud of the way the kids played.”
His team started fast when Blaise Baughman recovered the ball away from Skutt on Riley Wolff's short opening kickoff.
Less than 2 minutes later, Blair quarterback Bode Soukup completed a fourth-down pass to senior Ethan Baessler for a 25-yard touchdown. The pair connected again shortly thereafter on a 20-yard touchdown completion, capitalizing on another Skyhawks miscue — a fumble on their first offensive possession.
The home squad scored next on a 78-yard run, but the Bears weren't deterred. Junior Brock Templar scored the road squad's third touchdown of the opening quarter on a 20-yard run with 4:26 left in the opening quarter.
Just 3 minutes later, senior Ben Holcomb added a 53-yard touchdown catch from Soukup, giving BHS a 22-point advantage after just 10:25 of game time.
“The kids played with confidence,” coach Soukup said. “Kids stepped up.”
Baessler left the game injured, though, and Skutt capitalized with the Bears' most-effective offensive weapon sidelined. It scored twice during the second quarter, pulling within 28-20 before the halftime break.
The Skyhawks scored their fourth touchdown with 7:15 left in the third quarter, too, but elected to take an extra-point kick rather than go for the tie.
The decision nearly cost coach Matt Turman's team.
Blair kept its 28-27 lead for 19 minutes and 3 seconds of game time before Finkenbinder's season-saving kick. Holcomb forced a turnover on downs in the third quarter with a clutch tackle before Thomas Chikos intercepted a fourth-quarter pass — after AJ Damme intercepted a pass in the first half, too.
Crayton Macholan recovered a Skutt fumble late as well before the Skyhawks ultimately escaped with a two-point, come-from-behind win. The loss ended the Bears' season just shy of their first state semifinals appearances since 2010.
For the full story and additional photos, check out Tuesday's edition of the Washington County Pilot-Tribune. Coverage will appear online at enterprisepub.com/sports that same day.
