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 Derrick hostert makes a dash past a Grand Island C.C. defender in last week's first round playoff action.
The O'Neill Eagles ended their 2012 season with a heart wrenching 28-27 loss to Grand Island C.C. on Thursday, Oct. 25. The Eagles, who made their first playoff appearance since 1996, played a hard fought and challenging season and were tough to the end. The Eagles started the season blowing through opponents with no problem and even with the losses of the last two regular season games continued to grow and play well as a squad. "The boys that we were able to work with never gave up and continued to believe the entire season. These guys showed remarkable character, poise and fight for the entire season and will be remembered more for what type of people they’ve become, rather than what type of players they were," said Coach Eichelberger. The Eagles opened up the game with a spectacular drive down field and in the span of nine plays Tate Laursen drove in a 22 yard touchdown run. Both teams played tough ball, trading sides of the field. Central Catholic tied the score right before the half but O'Neill was not down and out as Blake Cunningham took the kickoff 85 yards for the touchdown and gave the Eagles a halftime lead. Grand Island took control in the second half by keeping a tight reign on the Eagle offense. Offensively Grand Island punched in a couple scores to go ahead 21-14. With a minute left in the game, the Eagles down seven, Hedlund hit Hostert with 48 seconds on the clock and the Eagles tied it up and put them in over time. In the overtime period O’Neill took the ball to the one and Michael Hedlund snuck in on the next play. But the Eagles good fortune ended when the PAT went left. Grand Island took their turn and scored and with the PAT put an end to the Eagles who finish the season 6-3.
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