Heartbreak and hope: Tigers look ahead to district play

Oh, so close. The Nevada Tigers came within 19 seconds of capturing a slice of the Big 8 West Division crown Friday night at Logan Field. If it weren’t for an 8-yard touchdown pass from Seneca quarterback Gavyn Hoover to tight end Hagen Ginger with just seconds remaining, the Tigers would have had a share of a conference championship for the first time in 25 years. Final score: Seneca 40-Nevada 36.

The Seneca Indians came into Friday night unbeaten with a record of 8-0 and ranked second in Missouri Class 3. In addition, the Indians were giving up under 8 points a contest on defense and had not been challenged for the most part. Seneca had defeated their opponents by an average of 38 points per game and only one team had played them within two touchdowns, a 28-14 victory over the Missouri Class 2 number one ranked Lamar Tigers on Sept. 15.

But at this games’ end, collective “Tiger Pride” had given the Indians all they could handle and then some.

It didn’t take the Tigers long to get on the scoreboard. At 10:28 in the opening frame, junior running back Jack Cheaney took a Kellen Braden handoff and with the help of an outstanding block by a pulling Talan Chandler sprinted right on his way to a 75 yard touchdown run. The Braden PAT was good and Nevada held a 7-0 lead.

Seneca would soon counter. At 5:24, after methodically driving the ball down field, Indians running back Jackson Marrs scored on a 14-yard touchdown run. The 2-point PAT run by Roman Miller was good. And Seneca took their first lead, 8-7.

Midway through the second quarter the Indians widened their lead. At 8:34, Indian senior Blake Hurn scored on a 7-yard jet sweep TD run. The 2-point PAT run failed and Seneca held the 17-7 advantage.

Nevada received the ensuing kick and started their drive from their own 21-yard line. The Tigers, on a steady diet of Cheaney and Gabe Smith carries, pushed the ball into Seneca territory. Then on a 4th down and 8 yards to go, Tiger senior running back Dez Robinson ran to the left, broke a tackle, and sprinted to a 36-yard TD run. The Braden PAT kick was good and the game was knotted at 14-14 with 2:29 to go in the half.

After a 15-yard personal foul on the Tiger defense, Seneca had the ball on the Tiger 46-yard line. The Nevada defense stiffened and Tiger senior defensive back Brice Budd came up with a huge interception at the 1-yard line of the Nevada. Then what will go down as a play that will be long remembered by the faithful at Logan field, lightning struck. The right side of Nevada’s offensive line, along with a beautiful lead block by fullback Grady Stewart, opened a hole and Jack Cheaney sprang a 99-yard touchdown run. With 16 seconds to go in the half, Nevada regained the lead. After the Braden PAT kick was good, Nevada took a 21-14 lead into the locker room.

With less than a minute gone in the third quarter, Jack Cheaney would score his third touchdown of the game. Cheaney had over 200 yards rushing in the first half alone and added to that total with a 30-yard TD run at 11:02. The Braden PAT kick was good and the Tigers opened their lead to 28-14.

Seneca would answer with another long drive. At 6:02, Indian senior Ethan Altic scored on a 4th down, 5-yard, wide receiver reverse. The 2-point PAT failed and the Indians had cut the Tiger lead to eight, 28-20.

Nevada was able to come up with a long drive pushing the ball all the way to the Seneca 28-yard line. On a 4th down and 6, the Tiger offense could only manage a 3-yard run. Nevada would turn the ball over on downs as the third quarter would soon end.

Seneca would drive to mid field early in the fourth quarter. On a first and 10 from the Tiger 49-yard line, Seneca quarterback Gavyn Hoover would break a 45-yard run all the way down to the Nevada 4-yard line. Then with 9:38 to go in the fourth quarter, Indian senior Jackson Marrs scored on a 5-yard TD run. The Marrs 2-point PAT run was successful and the game was even-Nevada 28-Seneca 28.

After a Nevada turnover on the kickoff, Seneca would take over on the Tiger 25-yard line. A few plays later, Indian running back Jackson Marrs scored on a 12-yard run with 8:29 to go in the contest. The 2-point PAT failed and the Indians led by 6, 34-28.

Nevada would answer. With 6:33 to go in the game, Dez Robinson scored on a 42-yard TD run, his second TD of the game. The 2-point PAT run by junior Grady Stewart was good and Nevada regained the lead, Nevada 36-Seneca 34. As we watched from the press box, former Tiger coach Greg Jackson wondered aloud if we scored too early.

After the Nevada kickoff, Seneca would start its final drive from their own 32-yard line with 6:26 to go. Runs by Hoover, Marrs and Hurn and a Hoover pass to Altic, would push the ball toward the Nevada goal line, eating up clock along the way. Seneca called a time out with 2:18 remaining, facing a 3rd down and 4 yards to go. On the succeeding play, from the Nevada 37-yard line, Ethan Altic gained a first down to the Tiger 32 on a jet sweep.

Plays later, with under a minute to play from the Nevada 22-yard line, Seneca quarterback Gavyn Hoover spotted TE Hagen Ginger on a seam route. Ginger had the ball fall off his hands on the Nevada 2-yard line on what would have been a sure score. Two plays later, Ginger would redeem himself. With 19 seconds to go in the game, QB Hoover connected on an 8-yard touchdown pass to Ginger. The 2-point PAT would fail.

With no time remaining the scoreboard would read: Seneca 40-Nevada 36.

Statistically, both teams had excellent rushing nights. Nevada had 416 yards on the ground and Seneca tallied 386. Nevada had several big plays while the Seneca offense was more methodical. Seneca had 68 offensive plays to the Tigers 39. Nevada had two 100 yard plus rushers. Dez Robinson had 109 yards on 7 carries and Jack Cheaney had an amazing 284 yards rushing on 18 carries and 3 touchdowns. On the season, Cheaney has now racked up 1601 yards along with 24 rushing touchdowns. Based on my research of the top running backs in Nevada High School history, Cheaney only trails former Nevada standout Avious Steadman by 250 yards for the single season rushing record. Steadman rushed for 1851 yards in 2021, his junior season at Nevada.

Head Coach Wes Beachler had the following to say after a tough loss: “I was proud of how hard our guys played. They answered every time Seneca made a run. I’m (always) proud of how hard they play, how they play as a team and for each other, and they never quit.’

As I said in the title, Heartbreak and Hope.

Nevada now advances to Missouri Class 4 District 7 play as the number 1 seed. Nevada will receive a first-round bye next Friday and look to play host to the winner of the Grandview vs. Center district contest. Tiger fans can look forward to that November 3rd semifinal contest at Logan Field.

I am confident the Tigers will be ready. As I sat alone in the press box, with all but just a few people left in the stadium, I reflected on the night. I am a self-proclaimed crimson and gray sports historian, and more importantly, a Nevada fan. I have seen a lot of autumns come in go. Our Tigers two defeats this season have come to top ranked teams in their respective classes. They scored 36 points on a Seneca defense that was giving up an average of 8 points a game through 8 games.

During various ceremonies and PA announcements Friday night, our school honored a Lady Tiger softball team who won its district championship, a Lady Tiger golfer (Paige Hertzberg) who qualified for state for all four years, the first time that feat has been accomplished since 1991. Emree Cameron was recognized before the crowd to a standing ovation for her MSHSAA girls’ golf individual state championship this past week. And, in addition, our Nevada High School Volleyball team competes for the District Championship on Tuesday at Monett vs. Mt. Vernon Lady Mountaineers.

Autumn conjures aromas of nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon … of fallen leaves and smoking fire pits… of hot chocolate and warm Apple cider … and of dreams of what may lie ahead.

As I started my pickup to make the 150-mile trip home to Arkansas, I felt but two emotions: Hope … and Pride.

We have an awful lot to be proud of. As my former NHS Principal Debra Workman use to say, “It is a great day (or fall) to be a Tiger!”