Bluejays Upset #2 Seed in First Round of Playoffs

October 31, 2017

by Morgan Crist

 

The Pierce Bluejays took on the Fairbury Jeffs on Friday, October 27, in the first round of state playoffs. The 15-seeded Jays won with final score of 36-32 at the home of the Jeffs.

In the first quarter, the Bluejays found themselves down by 13 points but got the ball rolling with a nine-yard touchdown made by Dalton Freeman and the PAT successfully kicked by Devan Roth.

Before halftime, the Jays would take a one-point lead. Pierce allowed a Fairbury touchdown and not PAT, but Freeman kept up his scoring streak with a touchdown pass to Dysen Roth, and Devan Roth kicked another PAT. Fairbury attempted to rise to the Pierce’s level with another touchdown and PAT. The Bluejays answered back with the duo of Freeman with a 26-yard touchdown and Devan Roth with a good PAT to bring the score to 21-20.

The third quarter consisted of a Jeffs touchdown and a failed PAT to put the Jays behind again, but in the fourth and final quarter, Collin Tinker went straight for a two-yard touchdown, and a pass from Freeman to Devan Roth made up the two point conversion. In a final attempt to catch up, Fairbury scored one last touchdown but failed their PAT. Before the buzzer sounded, however, Tinker had yet another touchdown, this one of 15 yards, and Devan Roth continued his successful PAT streak to give the Jays a victory.

For rushing, Collin Tinker had 133 yards, and Freeman had 122. Dysen Roth had two catches for 34 receiving yards, and Freeman passed for 76 with six completions. Collin Tinker had 14 tackles, and Dylan Delka and Jadon Magdanz each had 11. Trevor Guenther and Carter Rohrich each had a sack. Cody Yawn had two interceptions, and Freeman had one. Delka and Magdanz each had a fumble recovery.

Coach Mark Brahmer said of Friday’s game, “I’m very proud of the boys’ effort as well as their perseverance through the “ups” and “downs” of the game. After getting down 13-0 to start the game, they easily could have folded and given up. This group of boys is full of young men with grit and fight. Their determination to succeed, despite tough circumstances, has been fun to watch.”

The Jays will face West Point-Beemer for the second time this season in the quarterfinals, hosted at Pierce on Friday, November 3.