Class C-2 Final: Blue Hill wins on third try
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By BRENT C. WAGNER / Lincoln Journal Star
Only moments remained until Blue Hill had its first state championship in football, and junior running back Riley Bonifas could no longer hold back his emotion.
"I knew it was coming," said Bonifas, his eyes welled up with tears. "I'm an emotional guy, so I knew it was coming."
There was plenty to get emotional over following Blue Hill's 14-0 victory against Archbishop Bergan in the Class C-2 state championship game Friday at Memorial Stadium.
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Scott Porter had experienced winning a state championship as a player, but the Blue Hill team he coaches had lost in the finals the past two seasons before winning this year.
Porter played at Clay Center when they won Class C-2 state title against rival Harvard 13-7 in 1986.
"I had this feeling when I was a freshman and we won state, when I got married and when my three daughters were born," Porter said.
Porter is in his third year as head coach at Blue Hill and fourth overall. He previously coached at Silver Creek and Twin River.
"When I was let go at Twin River, I was at the point where I wondered if I was really cut out for this," Porter said. "Then I got hired at Blue Hill and got around these kids, and it was like the Energizer Bunny got put in me."
After disappointing showings during state final losses to Wakefield the previous two seasons, Blue Hill gave the school its first state title in any sport in 80 years.
A state football title seemed improbable a few years ago, with Blue Hill having only one playoff victory in school history before 2005.
"This is great for these kids, especially these seniors," said Bobcats' third-year head coach Scott Porter. "They only lost four games in their four years. We wouldn't be where we are without those guys."
It was three seniors that combined on two turnovers that were the difference in a game where first downs were hard to come by, and Bergan only got inside the Bobcats' 20 once.
Blue Hill scored both its touchdowns following Bergan turnovers.
The first touchdown came when Blue Hill took over at the Knights' 41 after Bergan QB Riley Gross was hit by Blue Hill senior tackle Keith Faimon and fumbled. Senior Casey Van Boening recovered the fumble.
Seven plays later, with three minutes remaining in the first quarter, Nathan Faimon scored on a 4-yard run.
"I think that was one of the major turning points," Van Boening said of the fumble recovery.
The Bobcats converted another turnover when senior safety Bryan Adams intercepted Gross near midfield late in the third quarter. Adams was hurt in the semifinals.
Blue Hill again used the short field to its advantage, with Bonifas capping the scoring drive with a 5-yard TD run to give Blue Hill breathing room.
Blue Hill's offense wasn't overwhelming either, but the Bobcats converted 3-of-4 fourth downs. Blue Hill had 173 yards of offense, 160 by rushing. Bonifas rushed for a game-high 105 yards.
It was the fifth shutout of the season for Blue Hill (12-1). In a couple other games the Bobcats didn't allow a touchdown until the reserves were in.
Bergan’s best scoring chance in the second half came when it took over at the Blue Hill 38 with six minutes remaining, but the Knights quickly fumbled. Bergan had two interceptions and lost two fumbles.
The Knights thrived all season with a spread offense and short passing game, but was never able to get much going. Bergan had 60 yards passing and 60 rushing. Gross was 15-for-29 passing.
Bergan never gained big yards after the catch, as it had much of the season, coach Ron Beacom said.
"Our whole plan is to get you in space and see how you handle it, and they handled it better than anybody we've seen all year," he said.
After watching several teams be exposed by Gross finding lanes to run, Blue Hill opted not to rush the quarterback and take away his rushing option, Porter said.
"After Sunday night, we were beating our heads against the wall, and Monday I sat down and looked at it more and said, 'You know, it's not as overwhelming as it looks,’" he said. "I went over it and said we just need to go to our base defense and follow the rules we followed all year long. That's what got us here and that's what we did."
Gross completed passes to six different players, but no reception covered more than 12 yards. Top target Josh Boggs, who has had a knack for big plays this season, was held to 12 yards receiving.
"Bergan could run so many different routs, and go five wide," Adams said. "We just had to play fundamentally sound, and that's what we did."
Reach Brent C. Wagner at 473-7435 or bwagner@journalstar.com.
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