Central City stomps Fort Calhoun, wins first playoff game since 2017

CENTRAL CITY – Fans packed the stands for Central City's first home playoff game since 2015 and they wouldn't be disappointed.

The Bison did what it's done all season and that's light up the scoreboard en route to a 49-14 win over Fort Calhoun to move onto the second round of the playoffs.

"You couldn't ask for a better start," Central City coach Troy Huebert said. "We just talked about how we came out, three and out on the first possession and then blocked the punt. That just got us some momentum early."

The Bison got out to an amazing start and scored 28-unanswered points. The defense allowed just one first down in the first quarter. But the story was about how Turner Hanke was playing.

Hanke had two-receiving touchdowns in the first quarter of 36 and 54 yards. He also had a 22-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter and an interception in the third quarter. In total Hanke finished with 131 yards and three touchdowns.

"I just had a feeling this would be a big game for Turner. He's kind of one of the unsung heroes, especially offensively we got so many pieces and he's a dynamic guy that really does a lot for us," Huebert said. "We just gotta get him the ball more and that was kind of our focus."

The Bison's offense didn't have the same gusto in the second quarter as it did in the first quarter and the Pioneers started to pick up some steam.

Fort Calhoun after not being able to move the ball much in the first quarter had big plays in the second. The first was a 44-yard run by Kaiden Rodriguez and then quarterback Adam Elofson scored on an 18-yard run on fourth down.

On Central City's next possession Parker Zikmund threw an interception on a 50-50 ball in the end zone. Fort Calhoun marched 80-yards and scored on a 1-yard run by Blake Welchert.

Zikmund threw another interception in the same situation as his first and Fort Calhoun ran the clock out to end the half.

"Unfortunately just a little underthrown, we gotta get that ball a little higher to give him a chance," Huebert said. "The thing about Parker is he doesn't let that bother him. He does not see anything that's in the past, he's looking forward, so you gotta love that about your quarterback, not hanging their head."

When the game was over Zikmund threw for 285 yards and five touchdowns. He now has over 2,000 passing yards on the season and 34 touchdown passes.

In the third quarter, Central City's defense stopped all the momentum that Fort Calhoun had built in the first half.

The offense also went back to looking for Wyatt Dent in the end zone. Zikmund found Dent on a 15-yard touchdown pass. Dent caught the ball over a defender and finished with six catches for 69 yards.

"It was one-on-one, it was third down and we just trust Wyatt," Huebert said.

Central City running back Corbin Kyes also had himself a big game, a week after rushing for over 400 yards. He finished with 96 yards rushing and had two-rushing touchdowns and a receiving touchdown.

"We knew after last week they'd be a little more focused on him," Huebert said. "We just couldn't really get the big explosive runs, but we were getting the chunk yardage especially there in the second half."

The game was all but over in the fourth quarter after Central City scored two touchdowns. But Bladen Kohl put the last nail in the coffin with an interception with under a minute to play,

Central City advanced to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2017. In the second round, the Bison will play at Columbus Lakeview who beat Scotus Central Catholic 14-7 in the first round.

"Our kids have really bought into the 1-and-0 mentality. We just focus on every day, every practice, every game," Huebert said. "We don't want to look past that."

Central City 49, Fort Calhoun 14

FTC;0;14;0;0

CC;28;0;7;14

First Quarter

CC - Corbin Kyes 3-yard run (Poland kick) 8:34.

CC - Turner Hanke 36-yard reception from Parker Zikmund (Poland kick) 6:52.

CC - Turner Hanke 54-yard reception from Parker Zikmund (Poland kick) 4:23.

CC - Corbin Kyes 6-yard reception from Parker Zikmund (Poland kick) 1:57.

Second Quarter

FTC - Adam Elofson 18-yard run (Bierman kick) 10:04.

FTC - Blake Welchert 1-yard run (Bierman kick) 2:16.

Third Quarter