After starting the 2019 high school football season just 1-2, the Nemaha Central Thunder were searching for answers.

Following a 28-14 loss to Holton in week three the Thunder wanted to get back to the basics of running the football and getting the ball to their playmakers in space.

Since that loss to the Wildcats Nemaha Central has done just that winning five-straight games capped off by capturing a Class 2A District 3 championship Friday night with a 26-20 win over Maur Hill-Mount Academy.

The Ravens had beaten the Thunder for the district championship a year ago and started fast scoring the games first touchdown on a 5-yard pass from senior quarterback Jack Caudle to senior tight end Abe Siebenmorgen to jump out to a 7-0 lead.

Nemaha Central was never fazed and answered with 14 unanswered points to take a 14-7 lead in the second quarter. The Thunder got a touchdown pass from Dylan Schultejans to Andrew Leonard and an 11-yard run from Gavin Duryea.

Late in the first half Maur Hill-Mount Academy tied the game on a 41-yard touchdown pass from Caudle to Grant Kocour who made a circus catch and the Ravens thought they were going to go into halftime with the game tied at 14.

But Nemaha Central decided to take a shot with a little over a minute in the half and it paid off as Tyler Gerety took a 13-yard catch and turned it into a 56-yard touchdown giving the Thunder a 20-14 lead at intermission.

The third was ugly with both teams trading turnovers but in the fourth quarter Nemaha Central took a commanding 26-14 lead as Gerety got loose for his second receiving touchdown of the game.

The Ravens did get a 20-yard touchdown pass from Jack Caudle to his brother Drew late in the fourth quarter, but Nemaha Central recovered the ensuing onside kick and was able to milk the clock away.

The Thunder forced four turnovers in the game and three in the second half including two interceptions of Caudle who had thrown two total picks coming into the game.

Tyler Gerety finished with 111 yards receiving and two touchdowns to lead the Thunder while Gavin Duryea ran for 133 yards and a score.

MH-MA had Jack Caudle throw for 191 yards and three touchdowns while he also ran for 78 yards. Grant Kocour and Drew Caudle each finished with over 60 yards receiving and one touchdown as well.

Nemaha Central (6-2) won the district three title and will get a home playoff game next week against St. Mary’s, while MH-MA (6-2) ended as the third team in the district and they will travel to Rossville for round one.