Rivalry matchups are a lot of times decided by a big play or a big performance and it was a big performances by the Sabetha Bluejays defense that has them moving on in the Class 3A playoffs. The first round of the Class 3A playoffs started with Sabetha hosting Nemaha Central in a rematch of week one and last year's first round playoff game, which Nemaha won 6-0. This time around it was Sabetha claiming the win 28-8 to keep their season alive.

It was a defensive struggle early and neither team could muster any offense with both defense's stopping anything thrown at them. The Bluejays finally broke through late in the first quarter mounting a drive that calmmated in a five-yard touchdown run by Brett Plattner, giving Sabetha a 6-0 with 32 seconds left in the first quarter. Both teams continued to struggle to find momentum in the second quarter of action, but as the first half was lingering to a close the Thunder seemed to find some offense and then sophomore quarterback, Ryan Hasenkamp went for the big play down the sideline looking for Tristan Allen, but Blake Popkess popped up on coverage and picked the pass off in the endzone to end the Thunder threat, and Sabetha led 6-0 at the half. The interception was the second turnover by Nemaha Central in the game.

Coming out of the half the Bluejays received the kick-off and gouged the Thunder defense with three runs up the middle of 14, 11 and 19 yards and then found themselves in the Redzone on the second half opening drive. Kegan Schumann finished off the drive with a one-yard touchdown run and with the two-point conversion it was 14-0 with 10:24 left to go in the third quarter.

The Bluejays backed up deep in their own territory later in the third got the best offensive play of the night, courtesy of the feet of Plattner who busted off an 89-yard run down to the one-yard line, were Schumann punched it in for his second rushing touchdown of the night. Brandon Poe added another score for the Bluejays, punching it in from five-yards out making it 28-0 in the fourth quarter.

Nemaha Central final broke through offensively late in the game as Hasenkamp hit Dalton Rottinghaus on a fourth and goal play for a four-yard touchdown pass and with the two-point conversion, it was 28-8 and Sabetha went on to run the rest of the clock out for the win.

In the loss the Thunder had Hasenkamp go for 165 yards passing on 13-25 with a touchdown and interception, while the team only ran for 52 total yards on the night. The loss ends the Thunder season with a 7-3 record this year.

For Sabetha they improved to 8-2 on the year and move on in the Class 3A playoffs, while also snapping a seven-game losing streak to Nemaha. Plattner paced the Bluejays offense rushing for 203 yards and a score on 20 carries, while Schumann ran for 62 yards on 16 carries with two scores as the team posted 323 yards rushing.

The Bluejays will travel to Silver Lake on Saturday for the Regional round of Class 3A playoffs; kickoff will be at 7:00pm and the game will be broadcasted on 103.9 KNZA and the Sabetha Channel with pregame at 6:45pm.