Nemaha Central won a thrilling game on Friday night against Nemaha County rival Sabetha to capture the 2A Sectional Title and advance to the final four. 

The #2 ranked Thunder (11-0) were looking crisp early as they jumped out to a 14-0 lead that went into the second quarter. 

Thunder quarterback Carter Hajek had a masterclass performance as he scored both first half touchdowns. The first on their opening drive in which he had nine carries for 70 yards on that drive along and capped it off from one yard out. 

The second touchdown was from 23 yards out on a 3rd-and-8 play in the second quarter. 

After a slow start, Sabetha (9-2) was able to get some things moving on offense as they worked a 13-play, 61 yard drive that covered seven minutes to cut the deficit to 14-7 on a touchdown run from quarterback Micah Lang. 

The Thunder worked a drive late in the second quarter but missed a 32-yard field goal right before the half. 

The Bluejays would end up scoring 20 unanswered points with two more scores in the second half to take the lead. 

Lang would score his second touchdown from five yards out on the opening drive of the third quarter which tied the game at 14-14. 

On NC's ensuing drive, they were forced to punt, but the snap was botched and the Bluejays pounced on it at the Thunder 35 yard line. 

Will Voos would score on a nine yard run to give the Bluejays a 20-14 lead early in the fourth quarter. 

The Bluejays would take a five yard penalty on a false start on the extra point to back them up five yards. The Thunder would bust through the hole to block the extra point to keep the deficit at six. 

The Thunder put together a must have drive with 10 minutes left in the game as they went 67 yards in over six minutes capped off by Hajek's third touchdown run on the night. 

The Thunder would make the extra point to take the lead back at 21-20 with the Bluejays getting the ball back with just under four minutes left. 

Sabetha would have a false start, lose eight yards on the following play, and would find themselves with 4th-and-27 backed up in their own territory and would turn it over on downs. 

The Bluejays would start using their timeouts but were able to stop the Thunder and get the ball back, but with only 30 seconds left in the game. 

Nemaha Central's Caleb Strathman would seal in the game in the final seconds with an interception in what was an incredible game between two elite teams. 

Hajek was the KNZA player of the game as he finished with 44 carries for 253 yards and three touchdowns. 

The Thunder have won nine straight against the Bluejays and have eliminated Sabetha in four straight postseasons. 

The Bluejays only two losses this season were against the Thunder by a combined three points. 

Nemaha Central sets their sights on the final four and the sub-state championship next week as they will host Osage City. 

**Photo Credit: Dari Hilbert**