By DELBERT PETERS

Sports writer

The Goessel High School Bluebird football season came to an end Saturday with a loss to one of the best eight-man teams in the state.

Baileyville B&B opened the game with a score in just over one minute. The Bluebirds punted after three plays, but on the Falcon’s next play, Cameron Stultz recovered a fumble.

Neal Brubaker gave a shovel pass to Stultz in the Goessel backfield and Stultz went all the way for a 22-yard score. It was Brubaker to Stultz for the extra points and the regional game was tied, 8-8, with 8:40 to play in the first quarter.

The Falcon quarterback scored on an option play but did not convert on the extra point. Both teams punted. Brubaker tossed a pass down the right sideline and Weston Hiebert went up for the ball with a Falcon defender. Hiebert took control of the ball, stayed on his feet, and went 50 yards for a touchdown. Brubaker hit Hiebert for the extra points and Goessel led, 16-14, at the end of the first quarter.

“This was one of the proudest moments of the game,” Goessel coach Justin Coup said after the contest. “Baileyville had never trailed all year long and we took the lead.”

Baileyville scored twice in the second quarter on pass plays. The bigger and taller receivers took advantage of their height. Goessel trailed, 28-16, at halftime.

Cameron Stultz broke tackles in the Falcon backfield and went 60 yards for another score and Hiebert caught another pass for the extra points, bringing the Bluebirds to within four, 24-28.

Goessel took over on downs in the middle of the third period but could not move the ball. Baileyville scored again with 1:42 to play in the third period to give the Falcons a 34-24 lead.

In the 72-degree weather, the Goessel defense had been on the field for numerous plays. Penalties for both teams slowed play late in the third and fourth quarters.

The shovel pass to Stultz worked several times for long gains. 

John Berkholz and Jacob Smucker broke up passes on defense. 

Hiebert and Stultz made numerous stops in the Bluebird backfield. 

Bryant Miller, Alex Ross, and Austin Cooper blocked the large linemen from northern Kansas.

Andrew DeFreese and Aaron Reimer played their hardest against some weighty blockers.  

Baileyville scored three more times in the fourth quarter. When Goessel needed to gain ground passing, a defensive back was in the quarterback’s face. The Falcon defense intercepted four passes in the fourth quarter and the Bluebirds lost, 58-24.  

“This was probably one of the closest teams that I have ever coached,” Coup said. “There was a chemistry with this team that I really enjoyed. After the first game of the season (which resulted in a loss) these guys worked really hard. Our guys have a lot to be proud of. It was a fun game and a fun season.” 

Goessel ended the season in the top eight teams with a record of 8-3.

Eight seniors will graduate from the Bluebird football program. Tyler Schmidt (injured in the Burden game), Hayden Goerzen, Stultz, Cooper, DeFreese, Reimer, Bryant Miller, and Weston Hiebert all contributed for a successful season. 

 Goessel vs Central/Burden

Goessel advanced to the regional round in the 1A football playoffs with a commanding win at Burden Nov. 3, 50-20. Berkholz got the Bluebirds on the scoreboard with a 56-yard sprint and Stultz ran in the extra points for an 8-0 lead.

In the second period, Stultz motored 25 yards for another score, and Burden got on the board with a 6-yard touchdown pass. Goessel led at the half 14-6. A good fake on a play action pass allowed Neal Brubaker to hit a wide-open Goerzen for a 23-yard score. Brubaker connected with Hiebert for the extra points. Still in the third period, Stultz broke free again for a 30-yard run to score and Hiebert caught another pass for the extra points and Goessel led, 30-6.

Central scored before the quarter ended cutting the lead to 30-12.

The Bluebirds exploded for three touchdowns in the fourth quarter with Berkholz going 39 yards on a run, 28 yards catching a pass, and Brubaker taking the ball 6 yards for a score. Berkholz ran in the extra points on the last touchdown and Goessel led, 50-12. 

Central returned a punt 70 yards as the game was nearing the end and converted on the extra points to make the final score 50-20. 

Goessel received the Bi-District Championship plaque and increased their record to 9-2 for the season.

Brubaker passed for 163 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Berkholz and Stultz accumulated yards on the ground, 135 and 142 respectively.

Hiebert went 61 yards on four catches and Berkholz earned 60 yards on three catches. 

Goessel’s defensive line only allowed 58 yards rushing and the Bluebirds defensive backfield snagged three interceptions.