Blair High School football coaches had their say, but the players weren't done Friday night at Krantz Field.
After a 42-21 season-opening loss to No. 8 Norris, the No. 5 Bears held the huddle together tight after coach Bryan Soukup left it. Voices coming from the center of the pack were raised.
“They're passionate,” BHS' head coach said. “They want to do better.”
Ahead 13-12 through one quarter, the home team saw its fortunes change with a turnover deep in its own territory late in the first half. The red zone interception call levied by referees was heavily questioned by Blair coaches as well as broadcasters on BSDN Live, which captured video footage of what appeared to be the ball hitting the turf.
“The ball clearly hit the ground, and that's a big momentum swing right before halftime,” Soukup said. “I've never seen anything like that in my life.”
The Titans took immediate advantage with Blake Macklin scoring from 15 yards out on the very next play. Evan Greenfield hit the extra-point kick and Norris led, 19-13.
“I thought we outplayed them in the first half, but we went in down,” Soukup said.
It only got worse from there.
Coach Ty Twarling's Titans ultimately scored 24 straight points after the controversial call, taking a 36-13 lead on Eli Holt's third touchdown of the game — a 42-yard pass catch from Jarrett Behrends at the start of the fourth quarter.
The Bears' Brock Templar scored on a 5-yard run with 6:06 left in the game, but the victors answered with another touchdown at the 3:09 mark.
“They got a lot breaks tonight and we didn't any breaks at all really,” Soukup said.
It started from the opening kick, too. Macklin bobbled the ball at his own 1-yard-line, but recovered with a 99-yard return to open the season.
BHS responded, though, with Templar racing into the end zone on a 37-yard run during the ensuing possession — the Bears' first on offense this fall.
Next, after a Norris punt, Blair senior quarterback Bode Soukup connected with 100-meter dash state champion Ethan Baessler on a swing pass touchdown. Baessler caught the ball behind the line of scrimmage, turned upfield and made it to the east sideline, sprinting 60 yards for a 13-6 Bears advantage as Titans struggled to keep up.
The play was, arguably, the high point for Blair. Norris produced most of the highlights from there, playing winning football.
“They were more physical than us tonight. That was the ultimate thing,” Soukup said before repeating himself. “Didn't get it done.”
The Bears next face Plattsmouth on the Blue Devils' home field. The game is Friday at 7 p.m.
The matchup serves as PHS' season opener, while coach Soukup's team goes into it a disappointing 0-1.
“Obviously, this isn't the start that we all wanted,” he said. “Of course.”
No. 8 NORRIS 42, No. 5 BLAIR 21
NHS (1-0) 12 7 10 13 — 42
BHS (0-1) 13 0 0 8 — 21
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
N: Blake Macklin 99-yard kickoff return, PAT blocked
B: Brock Templar 37-yard run, Riley Wolff PAT
B: Ethan Baessler 60-yard pass from Bode Soukup, 2-point failed
N: Eli Holt 4-yard run, 2-point failed
Second Quarter
N: Macklin 15-yard run, Evan Greenfield PAT
Third Quarter
N: Greenfield 40-yard field goal
N: Holt 8-yard run, Greenfield PAT
Fourth Quarter
N: Holt 42-yard pass from Jarrett Behrends, Greenfield PAT
B: Templar 5-yard run, Brady Brown 2-point conversion
N: Behrends 29-yard run, 2-point failed
