New Championship Hardware for Trophy Case
Yet another state championship trophy will be on display in the Pierce High commons area, after the Pierce Bluejays resoundingly defeated the Aurora Huskies 42-14.
The Bluejays put up impressive stats at the state championship game, just as they did in many other games throughout the season. The Jays amassed 452 total yards, with 293 from passing and 150 rushing, compared to the Huskies who just managed 240 total yards.
As the full trophy case shows, Pierce has a longstanding tradition of excellence in football. This team’s legacy is “one of the best, if not the best Pierce football team ever,” states senior wide-receiver Jacksen Wachholtz, who finished the season with just over 35 yards per game in receptions. Like many on the team, Colby Anderson, who passed, rushed, and received in the championship game, remarks that he hopes to be remembered as “having a good work ethic and playing my hardest at all times.” Senior Benjamin Brahmer mirrors Anderson’s comment, when he says, “As a team we played together, and we worked hard to get where we were.”
As for the championship game itself, in the first quarter, Aurora scored first, but Pierce answered on a pass play from senior Abram Scholting to Brahmer. Although the point after attempt was no good, the Bluejays were tied with Aurora 6-6 to end the quarter.
Again in the second quarter, Aurora was able to gain a lead, but just before halftime, junior Keenan Valverde found his way to the end zone for both the touchdown and 2-point conversion to tie the score at 14 to end the half.
“We were the team that wanted it more and were the team that had more drive to win and had our town behind us,” comments Wachholtz.
The Bluejays proved they had the drive to win, coming out of the half, and the Bluejay offense took control of the scoreboard. With 6:38 left in the third quarter, Scholting again connected with Brahmer for the score, pushing the Bluejay lead to 20-14, which held until the end of the quarter.
To start the scoring for the Jays in the fourth quarter, senior Addison Croghan grabbed the pass from senior Anderson, and the Bluejays led 26-14. This touchdown was followed by an interception by Brahmer with 10:29 left in the game. Valverde again scored for the Jays and completed the 2-point conversion, making the score 34-14 in favor of the Jays. Then with 3:05 remaining, Anderson grabbed the interception in the Huskies end zone, giving Pierce the ball back. During the next series, Scholting was able to connect again with Brahmer for the touchdown and 2-point conversion, which was the final score of the game, 42-14.
The final 75-yard reception for Brahmer gave him the class C1 playoff single game record for receiving with 11 receptions and 249 yards. Brahmer also holds the class C1 career record with 3509-yards receiving and 45 touchdown receptions.
Brahmer adds, “Time flies when you’re younger, so work hard as a freshman and in junior high or when you’re a senior you’ll regret not doing that.”
The Bluejays finish the season undefeated with a 13-0 record.
Because of the strong tradition, Anderson offers this advice to the elementary and middle school players “to work hard in the weight room and do the extra.”
“Keep working hard and just stay with it,” is the advice senior Carter Meier would give to younger future Bluejay football players.
“Advice for the future Bluejays,” according to Wachholtz is, “play your heart out every game and every second on that field counts because you’re gonna miss it when it’s all over.”
