Special Teams Boost Broncos in Win Over Mount Marty
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mount Marty (1-1) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 20 |
|
Hastings (2-1) | 0 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 45 |
Hastings, NE – The Hastings College football team over came a slow start to knock off Mount Marty 45-20 on a cool and wet Saturday afternoon on Lloyd Wilson Field.
On Mount Marty's first drive of the game, the Lancers were able to march into the red zone but the Bronco defense was able to get two incomplete passes to end the drive on downs.
On the Broncos first possession of the game, John Zamora complete his pass to Jacob Sharp but he was hit and he fumbled which set up Mount Marty with a short field in which they took advantage as Tyree Morrison scored to make it 6-0.
The first quarter was a struggle for the Hastings offense compiling negative one yard of offense. It would take until midway through the second quarter when the offense would get things going.
Hastings pieced together its first solid drive going 75 yards in eight plays highlighted by a 16-yard pitch and catch from Zamora to Courtney Lane and then Zamora scampered 17 yards to find the end zone. Following the Jason Bachle extra point, Hastings now led 7-6 with 5:46 to go in the first half.
The Lancers countered with a long drove going 78 yards in 13 plays as Morrison scored his second touchdown to make it 12-7 following the failed two-point conversion with just :38 to go in the half.
The Broncos needed a spark and got it on the ensuing kickoff when Jaishawn Wright took the return back 69 yards to the MMU 25-yard line. Hastings worked the ball inside the 10 where Zamora hit Toryian Tubbs with the jump ball as Tubbs pulled it in for the touchdown and the 14-12 lead with just :04 to go in the half.
Early in the third quarter, the Bronco defense got an early three and out and then got a nice 18-yard punt return to midfield. Zamora wasted little time going up top to Tubbs as he pulled in the pass for a 42-yard gain setting up first and goal at the eight. Daelyn Fairrow then found a hole and took it eight yards into the end zone for the 21-12 lead.
The Bronco defense earned another three and out giving the ball back to the offense at the HC 30. Another great drive was put together going 70 yards highlighted by a 20-yard completion to Garrett Esch and then an 11-yard completion to Will Austin eventually set up the Broncos inside the five. On third and two, Zamora connected with Ethan Wilborn with a back-shoulder throw for the score and the 28-12 lead.
Early in the fourth Hastings would really put the game out of reach as Esch set the offense up with great field position on another great punt return and on the first play of the fourth, Antoine Murphy scored his first collegiate touchdown on a two-yard run to make it 35-12. Mount Marty would add one more score as Hastings would add a Zamora to Wright touchdown and then a 35-yard field goal from Bachle to round out the scoring at 45-20.
For the game, Hastings finished with 351 yards of offense while holding the Lancers to 277. But you could also add the 207 return yards that proved to be pivotal in Hastings getting its offense going.
Zamora finished the game going 16-for-29 for 176 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 92 yards on 13 carries and a score.
Wright finished with 56 yards receiving and a score while Tubbs and Wilborn each pulled in four catches and a score. Esch averaged 32.3 yards per punt return with a long of 49.
Tyler Pawloski led the defense with eight total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, an interception and a pass breakup. Paxton Terry also finished with eight total tackles, two sacks a pass break up and a blocked extra point. Mason Catterson and Koby Brandenburg each finished with seven total tackles.
This was also Matt Franzen's first home victory as head coach.
Hastings improves to 2-1 (1-1) on the year and will be back in action Saturday Sept. 17 hitting the road to take on Concordia with kickoff set for 1:00 pm in Seward, NE
