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Post by Clemensbuff on Dec 13, 2021 11:16:58 GMT -6
Come on Falls City Beavers!!!
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Post by flowtowntigers on Dec 15, 2021 6:56:09 GMT -6
Falls City ready for state and ‘last 48’
The celebration was in high gear when Falls City coach Mark Kirchhoff gathered his players for a postgame speech. The Beavers had just downed nemesis Mart in the final minute for a 24-20 victory in a Class 2A Division II state semifinal Friday in Elgin. That earned Falls City a berth to the state championship scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, the home of the Dallas Cowboys. “I appreciate all of your hard work, but we ain’t done yet,” Kirchhoff told his players. “We have 48 more minutes.” When the Beavers’ final 48 minutes expire Friday afternoon, they hope to be hoisting the state championship trophy. Falls City (14-1) must beat Stratford (14-1) to make that happen. “This is what we’ve been dreaming about since we were junior high kids,” senior defensive lineman Tristan Niedenberger said. “It means everything to us. We are going to prepare like no other because this will be our last 48 together.” Falls City is making its third state championship appearance and its first since 2013, when it lost to Wellington 42-20. The Beavers won it all in 2010 when they defeated Windthorst 32-7.
Class 2A Division II state championship Falls City (14-1) vs. Stratford (14-1) When/Where: 11 a.m. Thursday/Arlington's AT&T Stadium TV: Bally Sports Southwest
Kirchhoff guided the Beavers to their only state title. He left after the 2012 season and coached Iraan for six seasons until retiring in 2018. He emerged after a one-year retirement and coached Harper to a 2-8 mark in 2019. The following season, Kirchhoff returned to Falls City after Britt Hart left for Merkel. “It’s kind of surreal,” Kirchhoff said. “I’m tickled for the kids that they are going to have an opportunity to do this. Coming back home is how we looked at it two years ago when we decided to go on this adventure. To be able to get these kids go to and play for another one is really exciting.” Stratford is making its fourth state championship appearance and first since 2008. The Elks have three titles (2000, 2004, 2005). The Elks defeated Albany 35-14 last week. Many high school football pundits predicted a Mart-Albany final. Mart returned many from last year’s squad that downed Falls City 48-21 in last year’s state semifinal. The Panthers had beat Falls City in the same round three years in a row. Mart entered the season having won three state championships in the last four years. “We were very tired (of losing to Mart),” senior defensive back Wesley Molina said. “Three years tired, actually. … We were tired of hearing about how good Mart’s program was. They’ve been the best since forever, so respect to those guys, and we finally got a win against them.”
One big difference this season was the Beavers’ understanding of Kirchhoff’s veer offense that’s run out of the shotgun. That was evident against Mart. It’s an option offense that adheres to ground control. Strength conditioning was also a factor. “We targeted some areas last offseason that we thought would close that gap physically with people like Mart and other great programs,” Kirchhoff said. The Beavers used that physicality on offense to plod down the field this season, shortening games and limit offensive chances for opponents. “We’ve had big plays, but we’re used to methodically moving the chains,” Kirchhoff said. “We’re chain-movers, not touchdown getters, and that’s what we try to do.” Senior Luke Shaffer, a fleet-footed 6-foot, 235-pounder, runs the offense at quarterback. He towers over most of his teammates and at first glance resembles a lineman. He’s also one of the area’s top kickers and punters across all classes. He rarely leaves the field as he is also a starting defensive back. Shaffer masterfully engineered an 80-yard, 16-play, 7-minute drive in the fourth quarter that put the Beavers on top for good Friday. His 17-yard pass to senior running back Grant Jendrusch put the Beavers in the lead, 24-20, with 39 seconds left on the fourth-quarter clock.
“Coaches call the play, and if we had to execute one play all game, I’d say that was the one play we could have executed to win the game right there,” said Shaffer, who transferred from Smithson Valley after his sophomore year. “It felt amazing. We were due one, and this is our year.” It was Jendrusch’s 12th catch of the season and fifth for a score. It was a play action in which Jendrusch faked a block. When his defender bit on the fake, Jendrusch slipped through the line all alone and caught Shaffer’s pass at about the 10-yard-line before reaching the end zone. “I was praying as I was running,” Jendrusch said. “Coach made a great call, and it worked in our favor. We worked hard and trusted each other. The coaches trusted us, and we trusted them. We knew they were going to put us in a good spot to win the game.”
dhinojosa@express-news.net
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Post by Clemensbuff on Dec 15, 2021 8:29:59 GMT -6
GO BEAVERS!
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Post by CC_Varmints on Dec 16, 2021 11:22:26 GMT -6
Beavers strike first. Jump ball in the End Zone!
Falls City 7 Stratford 0 1st Qtr
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Post by CC_Varmints on Dec 16, 2021 11:37:47 GMT -6
And just like that.....
Stratford 7 Falls City 14 1st Qtr
Stratford scores to tie and Falls City returns the kickoff to go back on top.
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Post by CC_Varmints on Dec 16, 2021 12:02:42 GMT -6
Extra Point no good!
Stratford 13 Falls City 14 2nd Qtr
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Post by CC_Varmints on Dec 16, 2021 12:16:52 GMT -6
Just before Halftime
Stratford 13 Falls City 21
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Post by CC_Varmints on Dec 16, 2021 12:20:34 GMT -6
Just before Halftime Stratford 13 Falls City 21 Halftime Falls City receives the 2nd Half kickoff.
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Post by CC_Varmints on Dec 16, 2021 13:21:02 GMT -6
Tie game in the 4th Quarter 27-27
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Post by CC_Varmints on Dec 16, 2021 13:30:42 GMT -6
Stratford scores. XP no good.
Stratford 33 Falls City 27 4th Qtr
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Post by CC_Varmints on Dec 16, 2021 13:46:02 GMT -6
On 4th and 10, Stratford scores to seal this game. 2 point try failed.
Stratford 39 Falls City 27 1:24 4th Qtr
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Post by CC_Varmints on Dec 16, 2021 13:50:28 GMT -6
On 4th and 10, Stratford scores to seal this game. 2 point try failed. Stratford 39 Falls City 27 1:24 4th Qtr Falls City throws an interception. Congratulations Stratford!
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Post by Clemensbuff on Dec 16, 2021 14:05:47 GMT -6
Damn Was hoping when I saw the halftime score the were going to stay on top.
Congrats to Stratford and also to the Beavers for a great season themselves.
GO BEAVERS
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Post by CC_Varmints on Dec 16, 2021 14:55:46 GMT -6
Damn Was hoping when I saw the halftime score the were going to stay on top. Congrats to Stratford and also to the Beavers for a great season themselves. GO BEAVERS Stratford DC made adjustments at Halftime and shutdown Falls City run game. That Stratford Defense came to play.
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Post by flowtowntigers on Dec 16, 2021 15:50:32 GMT -6
Tough break for Falls City was hoping they could pull out the win.
I think they threw the kitchen sink at Mart last week just to reach the Finals. That was their fourth matchup in a row with Mart at the semifinals and FC lost the past three. they finally got over the hump and I'm sure a huge sign of relief. I kinda felt getting past Mart was the beaver's title game win.
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