Charger trio seek further success
By Steven Allspach Journal sports writer | Posted: Saturday, September 20, 2008
Briar Cliff football players will come and go.
But, "The Neumann Three'' has forever carved out a special niche in Charger lore and legend.
Especially after performances last week in a dramatic 25-24 victory over Hastings that will go down as one of the most memorable games in school history.
Keep in mind that Charger intercollegiate football is only into its sixth season.
But, quarterback Kyle Gerdes, receiver Andrew Prohaska and linebacker Jarrod Makovicka, all graduates of Wahoo (Neb.) Neumann High School, made major contributions to perhaps BC finally putting an indelible stamp on the NAIA football map.
Hastings was ranked 23rd nationally and it was just the second time a Charger team had defeated a top 25 foe. The first came on Sept. 18, 2004 when the Chargers stunned 13th-ranked Midland Lutheran 14-7 in Fremont, Neb.
Of equal importance in the triumph over Hastings, Gerdes set school single-game records with 35 pass completions, 67 pass attempts and 467 aerial yards, Prohaska scored the winning touchdown on the final play of the game and Makovicka made 13 tackles and was named NAIA national defensive player of the week for his efforts.
On the game's final play, Gerdes hit Luke Roder with what appeared to be a 30-yard TD pass, but Roder fumbled before he broke the plane of the goal line and Prohaska recovered in the end zone.
After losing narrow decisions to Grand View and Dana in their first two outings, Coach Tom Rethman's Chargers gun for their second straight win today against Concordia in Seward, Neb. Kickoff in the GPAC contest is at 1 o'clock.
"It was quite a finish last week, but that's behind us and we have to move on,'' said Rethman, who was presented his first win as a college head coach. "We're far from being the football team we want to be.
"We have to keep evolving and improve in every area.
"It's nice to have those three kids from Neumann, though, I can assure you of that.
"Kyle Gerdes gets better every snap, Andrew Prohaska is one of the toughest little guys (5-7, 150) in this league and Jarrod Makovicka, from what I've seen in the short while I've been at Briar Cliff, is one of the premier linebackers in the GPAC.''
Gerdes, who shared snaps with two other quarterbacks last season, surpassed his entire season passing total of 413 yards last year in the upset of Hastings.
"My receivers did a great job all day and the coaches gave us the right play every down on the winning touchdown drive,'' said Gerdes. "The offensive line was terrific, too.''
The Chargers, without any timeouts remaining, marched 82 yards in the final 59 seconds to register just the 13th victory in the history of the program and snap a 13-game losing streak.
BC will again rely on the pass today against a Concordia team that has lost to Midland Lutheran (50-14) and Doane (29-13). Roder has snared 21 passes for 323 yards.
Concordia ranks last in the GPAC, giving up 414 yards a game, including 258.5 on the ground, but the Chargers have averaged just 65.7 rushing yards. BC's two losses are by margins of two and three points.
But, "The Neumann Three'' has forever carved out a special niche in Charger lore and legend.
Especially after performances last week in a dramatic 25-24 victory over Hastings that will go down as one of the most memorable games in school history.
Keep in mind that Charger intercollegiate football is only into its sixth season.
But, quarterback Kyle Gerdes, receiver Andrew Prohaska and linebacker Jarrod Makovicka, all graduates of Wahoo (Neb.) Neumann High School, made major contributions to perhaps BC finally putting an indelible stamp on the NAIA football map.
Hastings was ranked 23rd nationally and it was just the second time a Charger team had defeated a top 25 foe. The first came on Sept. 18, 2004 when the Chargers stunned 13th-ranked Midland Lutheran 14-7 in Fremont, Neb.
Of equal importance in the triumph over Hastings, Gerdes set school single-game records with 35 pass completions, 67 pass attempts and 467 aerial yards, Prohaska scored the winning touchdown on the final play of the game and Makovicka made 13 tackles and was named NAIA national defensive player of the week for his efforts.
On the game's final play, Gerdes hit Luke Roder with what appeared to be a 30-yard TD pass, but Roder fumbled before he broke the plane of the goal line and Prohaska recovered in the end zone.
After losing narrow decisions to Grand View and Dana in their first two outings, Coach Tom Rethman's Chargers gun for their second straight win today against Concordia in Seward, Neb. Kickoff in the GPAC contest is at 1 o'clock.
"It was quite a finish last week, but that's behind us and we have to move on,'' said Rethman, who was presented his first win as a college head coach. "We're far from being the football team we want to be.
"We have to keep evolving and improve in every area.
"It's nice to have those three kids from Neumann, though, I can assure you of that.
"Kyle Gerdes gets better every snap, Andrew Prohaska is one of the toughest little guys (5-7, 150) in this league and Jarrod Makovicka, from what I've seen in the short while I've been at Briar Cliff, is one of the premier linebackers in the GPAC.''
Gerdes, who shared snaps with two other quarterbacks last season, surpassed his entire season passing total of 413 yards last year in the upset of Hastings.
"My receivers did a great job all day and the coaches gave us the right play every down on the winning touchdown drive,'' said Gerdes. "The offensive line was terrific, too.''
The Chargers, without any timeouts remaining, marched 82 yards in the final 59 seconds to register just the 13th victory in the history of the program and snap a 13-game losing streak.
BC will again rely on the pass today against a Concordia team that has lost to Midland Lutheran (50-14) and Doane (29-13). Roder has snared 21 passes for 323 yards.
Concordia ranks last in the GPAC, giving up 414 yards a game, including 258.5 on the ground, but the Chargers have averaged just 65.7 rushing yards. BC's two losses are by margins of two and three points.
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