KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The best two-year run in recent memory came to a close for the Nevada Tigers on Friday night.
The third-seeded Tigers fell to the top-seeded Center Yellowjackets in the championship game of the Class 4 District 7 tournament, 35-13.
In search of its first district championship since 1998, the loss marks the second consecutive season the Tigers have been derailed in the district title game.
Led by dynamic tailback “Juice” Love, the juggernaut Yellowjackets entered the contest unblemished at 11-0. On the third play from scrimmage, senior wideout DeAndre Pruett collected a shovel pass and scampered 75 yards to paydirt.
The Tigers were unable to generate much offense in the opening frame and fell behind 14-0 via Love’s 3-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter.
The Yellowjackets capitalized on excellent field position late in the first half, as quarterback Joseph Vick barreled in from two yards out, staking Center to a 21-0 halftime lead.
Looking for an offensive spark, Jeremiah Johnson’s 73-yard touchdown romp early in the third was negated on a penalty. Nevada broke through near the midpoint of the quarter, as Johnson’s 5-yard rushing score and extra point trimmed the deficit to 21-7.
The Yellowjackets replied with 13 unanswered points, punctuated by Armand Russell’s 65-yard touchdown reception.
Decorated Tigers’ senior running back Avious Steadman found the end zone for a final time late in the fourth, accounting for the final margin.
The Tigers’ game plan was centered on containing Love.
“We didn’t play as well as we would have liked, but Center had a lot to do with that,” said Nevada coach Wes Beachler. “We talked about their overall team speed and that we couldn’t give up big plays. I thought if we could have sustained a few drives in the first half it would have been a lot different ballgame tonight.”
The near-freezing conditions essentially forced the Tigers to abandon their passing game.
“We knew with the weather conditions it wouldn’t be a great passing night for either team,” he said, “but we had to stop the run first and go from there.”
Beachler lauded Nevada’s 16-member senior class for their perseverance through rocky times. The veteran coach noted that five members of the class started as freshmen, something Beachler has rarely done throughout his nearly 30-year coaching career.
“We were 0-10 that year,” Beachler recounted. “Kids of lesser character would walk away from things that are hard and difficult. But this group rallied and continued playing with the two classes ahead of them.”
Following the aforementioned winless campaign, the Tigers reeled off 7 wins followed by back-to-back 9-3 district runner-up finishes.
“I’m just proud of the way they played and how far they brought this program,” Beachler said. “They will be sorely missed.”
A Fort Scott High School transfer, Steadman is the program’s all-time leading rusher, having achieved the feat in less than two full seasons in the gridiron.
“Playing here was the best feeling I’ve ever had,” said an emotional Steadman. “I went from Fort Scott, where I didn’t really get any playing time and nobody believed in me — to Nevada, where everybody believed in me and Coach Beachler gave me a shot. I wouldn’t trade anything for it.”
In the district semifinals a week ago against Lincoln College Prep, Steadman set a single-game Nevada rushing record with 320 yards and four touchdowns.
“I think he’s a once every five to 10 years guy. He sees the field well, has great speed and also has toughness,” Beachler said. “The thing I’m most proud of is that he’s not just a pretty boy ball-carrier. He blocks and does the little things. He’s also stepped up and played safety the last couple weeks — and played that well, too. He’s an all-around good football player.”
