The bounces were going the Mustangs' way Friday night at Raymond Central High School.
The Fort Calhoun football team trailed 21-7 after just one quarter, watching as its opposition turned two right-place, right-time interceptions into scores.
In response, coach Adolph Shepardson's Pioneers dug in. They turned to their running game, pounding the Mustangs play-after-play and gobbling up yards with each attempt.
Clint Dierks trucked over tacklers, Tristan Fuhrman cut through 'em and Austin Welchert outran them to the end zone. FCHS won, 45-35, improving to 3-1 on the season.
“Our line just dominated their's,” Welchert said. “There was holes you could drive a bus through.”
Traffic never picked up either as the Pioneers ran for five scores. Dierks and Welchert had two apiece, while Grayson Bouwman notched the game's first touchdown on a 41-yard jet sweep during the first quarter.
“They just couldn't stop (the run game),” Fuhrman said. “You've got Clint, me and Austin. We just rotate in and out, and it's just nonstop. Right down the throat.”
After FCHS quarterback Ty Hallberg's first interception fell into a Raymond Central linebacker's lap, the second snuck through Zane Schwarz's hands and into those of McKay Bryce, who returned it for a 27-yard Mustang touchdown.
The Pioneers' response was to run, run and run again. Dierks and Fuhrman turned handoffs into first downs to end the first quarter before Welchert took a direct snap and scored from 8 yards out in the second, pulling FCHS within 21-14 on Mason Bliss' extra-point kick.
Raymond Central's good fortune continued when a batted ball fell into Isaak Fredrickson's hands for a 47-yard touchdown reception, but the Mustangs' chances of holding off the Pioneers appeared unlikely. The Pioneers' offensive line was in firm control and the home team's defense didn't have an answer.
“Jayce Douchey. He's an animal,” Fuhrman said, shouting out one of his favorite blockers. “Quite the character.”
Dierks said the linemen on his team lead and display accountability. They often address and fix their mistakes on marches downfield. A two-score, 28-14 deficit didn't deter them or the Pioneer roster as a whole.
“Our want is pretty strong,” Dierks said. “I'm very proud of our team to push on and not letting (the deficit) get to us.”
The senior back pulled FCHS within 28-20 with 2:40 left in the first half. His 2-yard run wasn't the last touchdown before the break, however.
The Pioneers earned the ball back and Hallberg led his team downfield. He completed key passes to Schwarz and Grant Nixon before finding Schwarz again for a touchdown on the final play of the first half. Dierks' 2-point conversion run evened the score.
“We had to pass the ball and Ty executed,” Fuhrman said. “It was quite the highlight of the night.”
Another was Fort Calhoun's first offensive snap of the second half. Welchert took it and raced for a 53-yard score, giving the Pioneers their first lead since 7-0.
Coach Shepardson's team added a safety and another Dierks touchdown from there, holding off the Mustangs late. Landon Miller and Schwarz notched sacks on Raymond Central's final possession.
“Being 2-1, we kind of felt like we needed something more,” Fuhrman said on his way back to the locker room. He noted the Mustangs' previously unscathed record as motivation.
“To get this win is huge,” the senior said. “We're going to go into district play with our heads high, and ready to go take a district championship.”
The Pioneers start with Boys Town on Friday. The District 3 game comes at the end of their homecoming week.
“We're just going to keep going,” Welchert said after dominant day for the FCHS running game.
