Kearney secures 27-7 win in football season opener
Kyle Peters got his first win as the head coach of the Bearcats as Kearney defeated North Platte 27-7 on Friday evening at Foster Field.
Peters said the team started off slow but ultimately got the win over the Bulldogs.
“It’s always fun to win, but we could’ve played a lot better,” Peters said. “It was sloppy, it was first game stuff, but we’ll always take the win and move on to the next.”
The Bearcats started the game with the ball but fumbled the ball during the kickoff, giving the Bulldogs an opportunity to be the first team to score.
Kearney High's Kellen Jones makes a handoff to running back Camden Jones in the first half of Friday evening's game.
North Platte would go on to score their first and only touchdown of the game as North Platte’s quarterback, Matthew Hisel, ran the ball in for the touchdown.
Kearney scored their first points of the game in the first quarter when senior tight end and defensive lineman Adrick Teichmeir ran into the endzone for the touchdown with 58 seconds left in the quarter.
Teichmeir credited the offensive line for blocking for him to score the touchdown and put the Bearcats on the board.
“My first thought was my big boys up front were doing their job,” Teichmeir said. “If the big boys didn’t block, then none of this was bound to happen, so I want to give the credit to them.”
Kearney High's senior Adrick Teichmeir runs the ball into the end zone for the Bearcats' second touchdown.
Teichmeir would score again for the Bearcats in the second quarter to give Kearney a 14-7 lead at the end of the first half.
Peters said that after the Bearcats got their rhythm back after the early moments of the game, the team did a good job.
“I know it’s the first game stuff; we didn’t execute early,” Peters said. “I think we were really excited and nervous and all that type of stuff. Once we got in the groove, I thought the kids did a good job.”
Kearney High's Canon Cope and Preston Eilers make a tackle against North Platte in Friday evening's game.
North Platte started the third quarter with the ball and almost had the ball taken away as senior wide receiver and defensive back Canon Cope recorded an interception that was later taken back due to a pass interference call against the Bearcats.
On the next play, junior tight end and linebacker Peyton Meier recovered a fumble from the Bulldogs, giving the Bearcats possession.
Junior Escher Yaw kicked a field goal for the Bearcats with a little under 10 minutes left in the third quarter.
To cap off the third quarter, Teichmeir scored another touchdown for the Bearcats, giving Kearney a commanding 24-7 lead over North Platte.
Teichmeir said it felt great to win, and he credited the team for doing their assignments throughout the game.
“When you play a team like North Platte, it takes everyone to do their job to win,” Teichmeir said.
Junior tight end and linebacker Gabe Brachle catches a pass from sophomore quarterback Kellen Jones during Friday's game against North Platte …
Sophomore quarterback Kellen Jones played until there were 6 minutes left of the game.
Peters said Jones did a really good job for this being his first game on the varsity team.
“First game, being young, sophomore going from freshman football to Class A football is a big difference, so I’m proud of him and how he handled the game,” Peters said.
With a current 1-0 record, the Bearcats will be back in action against Elkhorn South Friday at Elkhorn South High School.
Kearney High Coach Kyle Peters talks to the team after winning their first game of the season against North Platte 24-7.
Check out the photos from Kearney High's 24-7 win against North Platte in the season opener.
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Senior tight end and defensive lineman Adrick Teichmeir scored a touchdown for the Kearney Bearcats against the North Platte Bulldogs Friday e…
