Haisch, Puppe represent Bears in All Star game
NORFOLK— Evan Haisch and Deagan Puppe put on a football uniform one more time to play in the Northeast Nebraska All-Star Football Classic June 11 at Norfolk Memorial Park.
Puppe spent a lot of his day on the defensive side of the ball for the Red team, which lost in overtime 24-21 on a 21-yard field goal by Tony Berger from Riverside in the first overtime session.
Haisch rarely left the field in the game.
In fact, the recent Bear graduate scored a touchdown in the contest after playing in the NEN All-Star Basketball Classic last week.
“I got a little tired during the game but I kept playing as hard as I could,” Haisch said “I am in decent shape, but not really football shape.”
He explained he is used to running a lot but having a break in between his runs, in football you need to recover more quickly as the plays are more back-to-back.
“It’s a different kind of shape,” Haisch said. “But it was a blast.”
Haisch found himself doing kickoff duties for his team, he punted for his team, spent time in the Red offensive backfield and played on the defensive side of the ball as well.
“Playing eight-man, I’m used to being on the field a lot,” he said. “I really like it - you don’t get bored.”
After the teams played to a 21-21 tie after the first four quarters, the Red team got the ball first in the overtime session.
The White defense held the Red team on fourth down after Tanner Walling from Wayne was called for intentional grounding on third down which placed the ball at the 18 where the Red team attempted another pass which fell incomplete. Levi Belina from Howells-Dodge carried the ball three consecutive plays for the White team setting up Tony Berger from Riverside for a 21-yard field goal attempt from the right hash mark.
Berger’s kick split the uprights and the White team walked off with the 24-21 victory.
The White team scored first in the contest on a Belina run from the five to take a 7-0 lead after Berger kicked the extra point.
Wayne’s Tanner Walling tied it up for the Red team with a 19-yard scamper through the White defense early in the second quarter, but the White team answered back with a Cody Maricle of Boone Central blast from the three to put his team up 14-7 heading into the halftime locker room.
Haisch scored from two yards out to tie the game again with 7:20 left in the third frame 14-14, just as he had done 26 times previously in his senior season as a Bear.
“I pretty much just followed my blockers,” Haisch said. “I just lowered my head and plunged forward.” The Red team took its first lead of the game early in the final 12 minutes on a 72-yard pitch and catch from Walling to Matt Christensen of Pierce to put their team up 21-14.
Stanton’s Parker Krusemark ran it in from six yards out to bring the White team even 21-21 with just over nine minutes left in the game.
Haisch will play in one more all-star football game as he heads to Hastings for the Sertoma Eight-Man All Star Game this weekend.
“I’m looking forward to it, all of these all-star games have been really fun,” he said. “I’ll be ready to roll again on Saturday.”
