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Eye of the Tiger: Nevada stings Center Yellowjackets in stunner, 36-28
The Nevada Tigers sent shock waves through the ranks of Missouri high school football Friday night stunning Kansas City powerhouse Center High Yellowjackets, 36-28 at Logan Field.
The West Central Conference victory improves the Tigers to 1-1 overall and 1-0 in WCC-play, while Center falls to 1-1 overall and 0-1 in the West Central Conference.
After the game, Nevada head coach Wes Beachler said he had felt good about his squad’s chances entering the contest at Logan Field against the reigning WCC champs. Beachler said he noticed something while watching film on the Yellowjackets Wednesday night, and again 45 minutes prior to kickoff.
“I just didn’t feel like they were as physical as they’ve been in the past,” said the veteran coach, “and that we would have the physical edge; and be capable of pounding the ball all night and running it.”
Beachler was accurate with that assessment, as Tiger senior tailbacks Braxton Shadden and Shelby Trotter, with the help of lead blocker Zach Gardner and the Tigers offensive line, turned the Yellowjackets defense into swiss cheese, racking up big yardage from the opening snap.
Midway through the first quarter, Trotter runs of 22 and 12 yards helped set up a Shadden 8-yard touchdown romp. Shadden then punched in the two-point conversion as the Tigers went on top 8-0.
Late in the first quarter the Yellowjackets capped a long scoring drive when sophomore tailback Dre’Ron Broadway bounced to the right edge and scampered in from three yards out. Center’s two-point attempt failed and the Yellowjackets trailed 8-6.
The Tigers dominated the second quarter, chewing up huge chunks of yardage with their ground-attack. Trotter rushed in from 14 yards out at the 11:55 mark of the second, and the successful two-point conversion handed Nevada a 16-6 advantage.
After holding Center to a three-and-out the Tigers marched downfield, with the scoring-drive punctuated by a Shadden 4 yard touchdown run. The Tigers were again successful on the two-point conversion, taking a commanding 24-6 lead into the halftime break.
Things got interesting quickly in the second half as Center’s Darius Porter broke off a 34 yard touchdown run, followed by a successful two-point conversion, leaving the Yellowjackets trailing 24-14.
Porter then got into the thick of it on the defensive side of the ball, picking off a Braeden Hinton pass and returning it 70 yards to the Nevada 7-yard line. On first down Broadway went off-tackle to paydirt. With the successful extra point kick, Center had trimmed the Tigers lead to 24-21 in the blink of an eye.
“I love Braeden to death,” said Beachler. “I wasn’t made at him, but told him after the play that you have to take what’s there. Zach was open in the flats, probably for the first down. And we tried to hit the home run ball.”
Hinton heeded his coach’s advice, engineering a touchdown drive on the following possession. He connected with senior tight end Hunter Mason, an NCAA Division I signee, for a 22 yard touchdown strike.
On the play, Hinton rolled to the left, throwing across his body to Mason in the flat. After hauling in the pass, Mason outran two Yellowjacket defensive backs down the left sideline and into the east end zone. A missed extra point attempt with 1:05 remaining in the third put the Tigers up 30-21.
“I’m giving all the credit to Hunter on that play,” said Hinton. “The defense had been crashing on the back-side, so I went to coach (Beachler) and told him I could get outside (of the pocket). So coach told Hunter to get out on the out-route. I delivered the ball high and Hunter made an amazing one-handed circus catch.”
The Yellowjackets scored on the ensuing possession, via Jeremiah Wilson’s 11 yard rushing touchdown with 11:45 remaining. Ethan Robertson’s booming extra point sliced Nevada’s advantage to 30-28.
On its ensuing possession, Hinton and company converted several crucial third down plays. On third-and-short, Trotter took an inside handoff and cutback left, turning on the after-burners as he jetted down the sideline for a 25 yard touchdown run. Nevada’s point after attempt was blocked as the Tigers held a 36-28 lead.
A pooch kick left Center in business at midfield with six minutes showing on the game clock. Two plays later, Broadway took a pitch from senior quarterback Amaun Ryan, and powered upfield for a 44 yard touchdown romp. The play, however, was called back on a holding penalty.
The Yellowjackets turned the ball over on downs, but quickly regained possession after a Shadden fumble. Facing a fourth-and-6 from the Nevada 34-yard line with 3:07 remaining in regulation, Ryan rolled out of the pocket, but an under-thrown pass to the left sideline resulted in another turnover on downs, all but sealing Center’s fate.
Nevada then took over, as Shadden redeemed himself, netting big yardage on several carries. Hinton then went into the victory formation as the Tigers ran out the clock, pulling off one of the most spectacular upsets in school history.
Shadden concluded the evening with 153 yards on 29 carries.
“Our front-seven (offensive line) came out with no fear whatsoever and smashed them in the mouth,” said Hinton. “Braxton and Shelby are our go-to guys. Those are our athletes and we count on them big-time. Tonight, the stage was there and they stepped up to it.”
Added Beachler: “The coaching staff challenged the offensive line and they rose to that. I wasn’t sure the way we practiced on Wednesday that we would score 36 points on them, but I’m glad our kids stepped up.”
Beachler discussed Shadden’s monster performance.
“I knew what I had when I saw him in camp in May,” recounted Beachler. “I remembered him, believe it or not in little league, and was thinking then that he was going to be a good running back because he’s hard-nosed and he is tough.”
Beachler continued: “And I’m proud of Zach Gardner. He’s a young man who has normally carried the load along with Braxton. And now he’s accepted the role as a blocking back for Braxton and gets very few carries. I’m super-proud of the way he has handled that.”
Beachler said he is thrilled for his team as they avenged last season’s 28-0 loss to Center.
“I want them to enjoy the victory this weekend,” he said. “But Monday when they roll in it’s back to work. I just hope they understand that and, I think they do and they will handle it well.”