Fort Calhoun offensive and defensive lineman Colton Miles knew darn well where Friday's home football game was won.
“In the trenches,” he said, convinced. “For sure.”
Coach Zach Byrd's eighth-ranked Pioneers won at the line of scrimmage and on the scoreboard against Elkhorn Mount Michael, 27-3, following up the previous week's perceived upset of Pierce. They improved to 4-1 overall in Class C1 with the victory.
FCHS scored four touchdowns, while holding the Knights' passing attack to a single field goal. Pioneers linebacker TJ DeMilt said Mount Michael's pass-first mentality was a unique challenge, considering his team's previous opponents this season.
“They were going throw more, but we held them down there,” he said.
The defensive effort allowed Calhoun to lead from the first quarter on. The Pioneers punted at the end of the their first possession, but drove 58 yards on their second to take a 7-0 lead. Kaiden Rodriguez, quarterback Adam Elofson and DeMilt all earned first downs on the ground, setting up Blake Welchert's 5-yard touchdown run with 3:31 left in the opening quarter.
“First drive was a little iffy, but I think we came out and started to wear on them,” Miles said. “We just kept driving our feet, staying as one and got the job done.”
FCHS' first scoring drive didn't end without loss, though. Rodriguez injured his arm at the end of a productive run and did not return.
Welchert and DeMilt took on the workload, combining for 99 rushing yards for the game, unofficially.
“I knew I had big shoes to fill with Kaiden leaving, so I just had to play my part and keep trying my best,” DeMilt said.
Elofson's passing kept the Pioneers scoring, too. Ahead 7-3 during the second quarter, the QB's first of three touchdown passes went to Eli Tinkham on a 7-yard score.
“We had dudes step up,” Elofson said.
Chase Premer and Kade Foy — who also intercepted a Mount Michael attempt — caught scoring passes covering 8 and 16 yards later during the game, too, as Fort Calhoun pulled well ahead.
“They just came ready to play,” Elofson said. “They're always ready to get the job done, and want to be out here.”
The end result was a comfortable, 24-point victory against the 1-4 Knights. FCHS next competes 7 p.m. Friday at Logan View/Scribner-Snyder.
No. 8 FORT CALHOUN 27, ELKHORN MOUNT MICHAEL 3
EMM (1-4) 0 3 0 0 — 0
FCHS (4-1) 7 6 7 7 — 27
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
FC: Blake Welchert 5-yard run, Chase Bierman PAT
Second Quarter
EMM: Ethan Moline 26-yard field goal
FC: Eli Tinkham 7-yard pass from Adam Elofson, PAT failed
Third Quarter
FC: Chase Premer 8-yard pass from Elofson, Bierman PAT
Fourth Quarter
FC: Kade Foy 18-yard pass from Elofson, Bierman PAT
