Menu
All systems go: Tigers throttle Hollister 31-6 in home-opener, improve to 2-0
The Nevada Tiger football program is officially back on the map.
After their season-opening upset of Logan-Rogersville, Nevada High followed up Friday night with a 31-6 thrashing of visiting Big 8 Conference cross-division foe Hollister. The triumph marks the first time Nevada has achieved back-to-back victories since the 2017 campaign.
Hollister's lengthy opening drive chewed up nearly eight minutes of the first quarter clock. Facing a fourth-and-goal from the 3-yard-line, Tiger linebacker Jace Lee stuffed a Hollister run short of the goal line.
The Tigers went three-and-out on the ensuing drive, but senior free safety Ethan Forkner came up with an interception. After a nice return and a 15-yard penalty, Nevada took over at the Hollister 32. :
On the first play of the drive star tailback Kaden Denney burst through an opening on the left side of the line, ripping off a 25-yard run. After a penalty pushed the Tigers back five yards, sophomore running back Case Sanderson took a hand-off from quarterback Dylan Beachler, gained the right edge, and bolted 13 yards to paydirt.
Nevada then punched in the two-point conversion as Sanderson plowed in from two yards out, handing the Tigers an 8-0 advantage late in the opening frame.
A key play occurred late in the second quarter when Nevada defensive lineman Nick Williams came up with an improbable interception of senior signal-caller Layton Morgan deep in Hollister territory.
Nevada needed only one play to capitalize on the miscue, as Denney's 9-yard touchdown scamper, followed by a Denney two-point run, had the Tigers on top 16-0, with 4:08 remaining in the half.
Back in possession, and just across midfield with 1 second remaining in the half, the Tigers elected to call a trick play. The trickeration backfired, however, as Hollister came up with an interception, nearly returning it for a touchdown on the final play of the half.
With disaster narrowly averted, the Tigers carried a 16-0 lead to the break.
Back in possession to open the second half, Nevada milked 9:34 off the clock, with their methodical drive punctuated by Eli Cheaney's 1-yard TD plunge. On the two-point play Beachler dropped back and hit fullback Logan Marquardt in the middle of the end zone, swelling Nevada's advantage to 24-0.
Hollister broke through early in the fourth as Cody Johnson's 3-yard TD run, followed by a failed two-point play, trimmed their deficit to 24-6.
Nevada quickly marched downfield, with the drive capped by Sanderson's 22-yard TD sprint straight up the middle, at the 9:45 mark of the fourth quarter. The rushing score was Sanderson's fourth of the season.
In their first extra-point kick of the season Beachler corralled an errant snap, as Omar Vargas booted a low line-drive through Logan Field's east end zone upright, accounting for the final 25-point margin of victory.
"Offensively, it was just a high level of execution," said Nevada head coach Wes Beachler during his postgame radio interview. "We've got some dudes who can carry the football, and are pretty good."
Beachler continued: "Denney is such a weapon, you really have to run to the ball if you're going to run him down. We've got Cheaney, we've got Sanderson, and Trey Moore's done a good job. Obviously, Denney's Denney — and credit to our offensive line for doing a heck of a job."
Beachler discussed his squad's exquisite defensive performance.
"They're where they're supposed to be on defense," said the veteran head coach. "I talk about that with them all the time — you've got to fit where you're supposed to be on defense. It's hard for the (opposing) offense to go anywhere if the defense is doing their job. And that's what we've had going on defensively the last couple of weeks."
Beachler said he couldn't be prouder of his squad.
"Regardless of what happens from this point forward, it's a great group of young men," he said. "They commit to each other, commit to what we're doing, and they execute at a high level. You got to have kids who believe in what you're doing, and go out there and want to sacrifice. It's a fun group to coach."
Summed up Beachler: "This doesn't mean we're not going to lose another game the rest of the year, but I just like this team. I like the way they play, the way they commit, and they've bought-in to everything."
Tiger tidbits
• After going just 1-for-6 on two-point plays in the season-opener, the Tigers followed up with a 3-for-3 performance against Hollister.
• Nevada's strength of schedule further improved as Logan-Rogersville, who the Tigers defeated last week (38-26), mauled Big 8 West rival Seneca Friday night, 37-15.
Up Next
The Tigers will look to extend their win streak to three as they return to Logan Field (Sept. 11) for a Big 8 West division showdown with Cassville (1-1). Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.