BEEMER – Howells-Dodge and Guardian Angels Central Catholic met for the 12th time since 2011, and fourth time in the playoffs on Thursday night, Oct. 22 in Beemer.
The Jaguars won 42-14, eliminating the Bluejays from the Class D1 playoffs at 3-5 on the season.
Blake Sindelar returned the opening kickoff for a score and the two-point try put H-D up 8-0 less than 20 seconds into the game.
GACC had a punt blocked on their first offensive possession of the game, setting up the Jaguars at the GACC 19 yard line.
The Bluejay defense held, however, and H-D was turned away on fourth and goal.
The special teams woes continued for GACC, as the snap went over the head of their punter and into the end zone for a safety, putting H-D up 10-0.
After the safety kick, H-D took over at the GACC 32, and the drive ended on a two-yard run by Levi Belina. The two-point conversion made it 18-0 Jaguars with 1:44 left in the first.
Another bad snap on a punt play for GACC gave H-D the ball on the Bluejay seven yard line.
Jacob Tomcak hit Lance Brester for a seven-yard scoring strike, making the score26-0 in favor of H-D with 10:09 in the second quarter. The two-point try was good.
GACC was able to move the ball into H-D territory on their next drive, but the possession ended on a fumble recovered by the Jaguars.
H-D punted twice, GACC failed on fourth down and punted on another possession to chew up most of the remaining time in the second quarter.
The Jaguars got the ball on their own 36 with 2:24 left before halftime and needed just 23 seconds to go the 44 yards, as Tomcak and Brester connected for a second touchdown pass, this time from 20 yards. The two-point try was good, and H-D now led 34-0 with 2:01 before the break.
GACC ran out the remaining clock to send the game into halftime.
Both teams punted on their first drives of the second half.
On their next drive, GACC took over at the H-D 16 yard line, after the Bluejays were able to get a piece of the punt. GACC was able to put together a scoring drive, as Coy Kreikemeier plunged in from one yard out. The two point try missed and it was 34-6 H-D with 5:29 left in the third quarter.
The Jaguars punted again and GACC received the ball on their own 11. A couple of plays later, Nate Niewohner broke loose for a 64-yard touchdown run. The two-point conversion made it 34-14 H-D with 37 second left in the third.
The Jaguars put together a 50-yard scoring drive on their next possession. The drive ended on a four-yard run by Brester, and the two-point try made the score 42-14.
GACC turned the ball over on downs at midfield, and H-D was able to run out the remaining 6:49, preserving the 42-14 playoff victory.
The Bluejays end their year at 3-5, while Howells-Dodge is now 7-2 overall and advances to the round of 16 in the Class D1 postseason.
Due to a format change for this years playoffs, the round of 16 will be re-seeded into a non-geography based bracket.
