Cardinals advance to Class D-2 quarterfinals

Grant Strunk/McCook Daily Gazette Hayes Center Cardinals' Wacey Hamilton (bottom), Brian Christner (top) and Luke Clifford gang tackle Ansley quarterback Wesley Slack (9) close to the goal line to force a punt in the end zone that was blocked and recovered to set up the Cardinals' first score in Wednesday's 46-6 win over Ansley in the Class D-2 playoffs.

to take on

Anselmo-Merna

Monday night

HAYES CENTER -- The Hayes Center Cardinals advance to the Nebraska Class D-2 quarterfinals with a 46-6 pounding on Ansley Wednesday night in the second round.

"I thought we executed very well on both sides of the ball tonight," said Cardinals' coach Scott Jorgensen.

"Ansley has some very talented kids and are very well coached. I thought we stepped up our level of play tonight, which should be expected this time of year. I know the boys are ready to get after it again on Monday night."

Cardinals' quarterback Luke Clifford rushed for 2 touchdowns and passed for 2 more.

Clifford connected with Brady Rosno for a 22-yard strike and hit Matt Gohl for a 23-yard score.

Clifford completed 8 of 11 passes for 125 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Keifer Messersmith ran for 92 yards on 6 carries and 1 touchdown.

Rosno caught 3 passes for 65 yards.

Gohl caught 3 passes for 45 yards and led the defense with 27 tackles (12 solo).

Hayes Center finished with 351 yards total offense. The Cardinals held Ansley to 133 total yards.

Hayes Center will travel to Anselmo-Merna Monday. Kickoff at Merna is 5 p.m.

Anselmo-Merna blasted Pleasanton 60-22 Wednesday.

Hayes Center 20 14 6 6--46

Ansley 0 0 0 6--6

HC -- Clifford 3 run (Christner kick)

HC -- Clifford 3 run (Christner kick)

HC -- Rosno 22 pass (run failed)

HC -- Gohl 23 pass (Christner kick)

HC -- K. Messersmith 28 run (Christner kick)

HC -- E. Messersmith 1 run (kick failed)

A -- Scott 5 run (run failed)

HC Wach pass 3 (pass failed)

Blue Hill 28, Cambridge 6

BLUE HILL -- The Cambridge Trojans finished the football season with a 28-6 loss to Blue Hill Wednesday.

Troy Hayes caught a 24-yard pass from quarterback Hayden Ekberg for the Trojans only score in the third quarter.

Gus Petersen rushed 13 times for 64 yards.

Taylor Lewis led the Trojans on defense with 15 tackles.

Cambridge finished the season with a 7-3 record.

Blue Hill 8 8 12 0--28

Cambridge 0 0 6 0--6

BH -- Petska 1 run (Hastings pass)

BH -- Petskea 5 run (Adams pass)

BH -- Adams 1 run (pass failed)

C -- Hayes 24 pass (run failed)

BH -- Hastings 10 run (run failed)