Defense sets tone as Knights prevail over the Indians

PONCA – Fremont Bergan's offense drew most of the attention last season as it broke records on what seemed like every play.

This season it could be the Knights' defense that steals the show.

Bergan's defense held Ponca High School to just 98 yards of total offense – 7 total yards in the first half – and picked up a 21-7 win in the season opener for both teams.

"We take a lot of pride on that side of the ball," Bergan head coach Ron Beacom said. "We keep saying that we can't get beat if we don't get scored on."

While the Indians had trouble solving the Knights' defense, they did capitalize on a Bergan miscue to tie the game at 7-7 midway through the second quarter.

Sophomore Tyler Rasmussen stepped in front of Bergan sophomore quarterback Riley Gross' pass on Knights' own 14-yard line. Four plays later junior Austin Hansen plowed in from the 2 to knot the score at 7-7 with 6:50 before halftime.

"The defense played real well tonight," senior Jordan Bottorff said. "We held them to one score and that came when we gave it to them on a short field."

Bergan wouldn't stay behind for long. They put together a fine 14-play drive to go up 14-7 with :31 left in the first half.

Senior Nick Lambrecht started the 6-minute drive with a 12-yard burst up the middle.

Gross kept the drive going by hitting passes of 8 and 13 yards. Bottorff stepped back from the offensive line to convert a 4th-and-2 on the Ponca 41. Gross then hit junior Christian Victor for a 19-yard gain and four plays later found sophomore Josh Boggs all alone for a 13-yard score.

Bergan totaled 203 of its 336 total yards in the first half.

The Knights scored their third touchdown two minutes into the third quarter. Bergan's defense held Ponca to a 3-and-out and then the quick-footed Boggs struck again.

The 5-foot-5, 130 pounder hauled in a Ponca punt on his own 40-yard line and found a lane up the left side for the score.

"It was supposed to be a wall set up on the right side but I saw an opening and went left," Boggs said. "It was all because of the blocking that I scored."

It was Boggs who set up Bergan's first score of the game on a punt return.

Boggs gave the Knights good field position at the Indians' 30-yard line after a 20-yard return midway through the first quarter.

Gross scampered 24 yards on the first play to Ponca's 6. Four plays later Lambrecht bulled in from the 1 on 4th-and-goal.

Lambrecht led the Knights with 77 yards on 18 carries. Gross added 71 yards rushing on 13 carries. Gross also threw for 153 yards on 14-of-23 passing with one TD pass and three interceptions. Victor caught three balls for 61 yards and Boggs also caught three passes for 35 yards.

Ponca junior Jared Curry led the Indians with 40 yards rushing on 14 carries.

Bergan ended with three sacks for -22 yards.

Notes: It was a homecoming of sorts for Bottorff. The senior grew up in Ponca before moving to Fremont when he was 4. A large welcome back sign to the Bottorff family was posted in front of their old family home right next to the football field.

Bergan 7 7 7 0 21

Ponca 0 7 0 0 7

First Quarter

FB Lambrecht 1 run (Tanner Anderson kick), 5:40

Second Quarter

P Austin Hansen 2 run (Ben Gehring kick), 6:50

FB Boggs 13 pass from Gross (Anderson kick), :31

Third Quarter

FB Boggs 60 punt return (Anderson kick), 10:10

Individual statistics

Rushing FB: Boggs 1-(-1), Victor 1-5, Lambrecht 18-77, Gross 13-71, Tanner Classen 2-0, Bottorff 3-32. P: T. Rasmussen 1-3, Andrew Watchorn 10-(-11), Curry 14-40, Austin Hansen 4-5, Eric Watchorn 3-2, Mark Burki 2-2, Joel Markworth 3-5. Passing FB: Gross 14-23-153-1-3, P: A. Watchorn 3-9-36-0-1. Receiving Patrick Walz 1-5, Connor Hotovy 1-2, John Spellerberg 1-14, Josh Mahrt 2-14, Boggs 3-35, Tom Wendt 1-10, Tanner Classen 1-5, Lambrecht 1-4, Victor 3-61; P: Ben Gehring 1-3, Curry 1-21, Nolan Block 1-12.