Defense Forces Four Turnovers as Football Wins Season Finale

Football closed out their season on Saturday with a matchup against Hastings. The longest running rivalry in the state of Nebraska, the Tigers and Broncos were meeting for the 122nd time. The first half may have evoked memories of play in the early 1900s as Doane led 3-2 at halftime. The offenses were able to get going in the second half but it would still be the Tiger defense that would come up with the big play to finish off a 20-15 victory. Doane ends the season at 2-9 overall and 2-8 in the GPAC.

Hastings would start the game with the ball and the Doane defense would force a 3-and-out as the Broncos went backwards three yards on the drive. The Tiger offense would take over near midfield and drive down to the Hastings 3-yard line before settling for a field goal of 24 yards by Kelen Meyer. 

The Broncos would advance the ball into Doane territory on their next three possessions, two resulting in punts and one a fumble at the Doane 9-yard line that was recovered by Jackson Seward. Ty Martinsen had the hit to force the fumble.

Hastings would have their first three drives of the second quarter reach Doane territory with two ending in punts and one ending with a fumble. Martinsen had an eight-yard strip-sack that was recovered by Briggs Songster to end one of the drives at the Doane 39-yard line.

The only score of the second quarter came after a Bronco punt that pinned the Tigers at their 3-yard line. On the first play, the snap was bobbled and the ball was kicked backwards into the end zone. The Tigers jumped on the ball resulting in a safety for Hastings.

In the third quarter, Doane would take over at the Hastings 30-yard line for their second possession of the quarter following a 22-yard punt. A sack by the Broncos would move the Tigers backwards but on third down, Cruz Kirwan found Jeremiah Payne down the sideline for a 33-yard touchdown strike and a 10-2 lead.

Doane's next possession would also begin in Hastings territory following a 25-yard punt. The Tigers marched 44 yards to the end zone to take a 17-2 lead. Frazzie Wynn found the end zone as he was able to keep his balance after a hit and scored on a 21-yard run.

On the ensuing Bronco drive, Hastings looked poised to get some points on the scoreboard as the running back rumbled 44 yards down field only to have Zach Fox knock the ball out from behind and Cooper Hancock jumped on the loose ball to recover it for the Tigers at the six-yard line.

Hastings would get a 3-and-out, forcing a punt and taking over at midfield. A 29-yard pass to Brett Simonsen was followed by a 20-yard touchdown run by Simonsen to pull the Broncos within eight points, 17-9, with 5:20 to play in the quarter.

On Doane's next possession, they were able to drive to the red zone but would finish with a 25-yard field goal from Meyer. The big play on the drive was a 35-yard reception by Karsen Reimers.

The final score of the game came from Hastings with 4:56 to play. Laython Shaw scored on a one-yard run but the two-point attempt would be missed, leaving the Tigers up 20-15.

Doane was able to run some clock on their next drive but Hastings would force a punt and take over with 1:51 to play and needing to go 77 yards for the win. The Broncos would cover 47 of the yards, taking the ball to the Doane 30-yard line with 31 seconds to play. On 4th-and-5, Martinsen intercepted a pass at the 18-yard line to seal the victory for Doane.

Defensively, Doane had 9.0 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks in the game. Martinsen paced the Tigers with 13 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack, two forced fumbles, and an interception. Jaheim Fuller posted 12 total tackles and forced a fumble. Jarett Boggs was in on 11 tackles and posted 0.5 tackle for loss. Boggs finishes the season with 12.0 tackles for loss, tied for 10th-most in a single season. Owen Kuntz collected 10 total tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.

Wynn led the Tiger ground game with 61 yards and a touchdown in his final game for the Tigers. Trystan Graf added 33 yards rushing for the game.

Kirwan went 14-of-26 for 135 yards and one touchdown for the Tigers. Payne had four receptions for 45 yards and a touchdown.

Meyer was 2-for-3 on the field goal attempts while adding 10 punts for an average of 42.7 yards per punt. On the season, Meyer converted 11 field goals, tied for fourth-most in a season, and averaged 41.1 yards per punt, third-best in a season.