PLATTSMOUTH, NE (2023 AUGUST 25) Blair’s Brock Templar could be considered the MVP of the game. That is small consolation to a Blair squad, though, reeling after an 0-2 start to the 2023 season. There were many opportunities for Blair to put the game away. Yet, miscues and penalties hamstrung the Bears on what could have been a hard-fought road victory.
From the first whistle, Plattsmouth showcased their hunger, drawing first blood with an early touchdown. But Blair wasn’t about to be overshadowed. Bode Soukup, Blair’s dynamo of a quarterback, exploited a gaps in the Blue Devils defense with some nice passing and strong runs.
Back-and-forth…
The second quarter saw Plattsmouth’s Villamonte light up the field. He lofted a beautiful pass to Gage Olsen, who sprinted in for a breathtaking 55-yard touchdown. But Blair was far from done. In a dramatic turn of events, Soukup connected with Brady Brown for a potential game-changer, only for it to be called back due to a penalty. However, Soukup’s determination was evident when he bulldozed his way through for another Blair touchdown, showcasing their never-say-die attitude.
Another time, on fourth down, deep in their own territory, Bode used a “hard count” to draw Plattsmouth Blue Devils offsides in a “goes for it” look on the fourth down needing about a half a yard. Time out was called before play, after the timeout, with Blair in tight formation, Bode Soukup ducked his head, lunged forward, and got the first down.
This was a gutsy play call. And more back-and-forth.
It was, though, the start of the third quarter which set the tone for the rest of the game. Bode threw deep for a big interception. Gage Olsen, of Plattsmouth, intercepted and brought the ball back to the Blair 38 yard line.
But, even with that, on the next Blair possession, Brock Templar was the man to watch. At 2nd and 6, near the Plattsmouth 42 yard line, Templar ran hard for 20 yards. Brock just pushed tacklers off in a determined, hard, tough run. The next play, he moved left, up center, to the right, and gashed the Plattsmouth Blue Devils defense for the best run of the game. Those were two stellar runs by Brock Templar to cap a gritty drive by the Bears. At this point Brock had 19 carries for about 163 yards.
Brock was a human wrecking ball as he pounded through Blue Devils toward first downs and the end zone.
The fourth quarter defined the game. Every pass, every tackle felt like it could change the outcome. Soukup’s ambitious attempt to find Cooper Sorensen deep was agonizingly close, a play that could have swung momentum Blair’s way. As the seconds ticked by, Plattsmouth showed composure under pressure, delivering a clutch 35-yard field goal to tie the game at 27-27.
Then came the moment that will haunt Blair fans: Overtime began, and Blair had first shot at glory. But Riley Wolff’s field goal attempt swerved left, opening the door for Plattsmouth. The Blue Devils grabbed the chance to seal the victory with a decisive field goal, ending the contest 30-27.
This was a game marked by missed opportunities and miscues for both teams. Plattsmouth’s center-to-QB combination provided three bungled snaps, Blair drove itself backward with penalties and deep losses from sacks in the 2nd half. Both teams seemed poised to take the lead. And, both teams put their engines on idle at moments they could have pulled ahead for good.
Blair’s got serious offensive weapons and a stout defense. Yet, tonight’s loss, by three points in overtime, will overshadow the individual performances of key players like Brock Templar and Bode Soukup. For Blair to win against Ralston on September 8, they’ll need to put this game behind, clean up mistakes, and not let the game come down to a kick in overtime.
