HUMBOLDT — The Humboldt High football team watched their season tick to an end in a 2A sectional quarter defeat against the No. 2 team in the state, Nemaha Central, on Friday, 44-18.
Two touchdowns and a safety gave Nemaha an early 16-0 lead in the second quarter from which the Cubs (8-3; 1-1) could never overcome. In the third quarter Nemaha Central garnered two more touchdown, 32-12.
Thunder running back Gavin Cain finished his night with three touchdowns to lead his team to victory.
Humboldt’s Sam Hull caught three touchdown catches in the loss.
“He (Hull) obviously had a terrific game tonight,” said Humboldt head coach Logan Wyrick. “It’s good to see. He’s been solid as a receiver. Hopefully, it’s sort of a coming out party heading into his senior year. It’s good to see him catch the ball well and we’ve talked to him throughout the year about expecting bigger things.”
There were early signs it was going to be a long night for the Cubs when they turned the ball over on the Nemaha Central 49-yard line on the opening drive.
The good field position gave the Thunder a shot at the end zone. Gavin Cain brought in a 21-yard touchdown pass from Brayden Uphaus with four minutes left in the first quarter. The Thunder converted on a two-point conversion, giving them an early 8-0 advantage.
On one of the next Humboldt offensive drives, the team surrendered a safety on a snap over the punter’s head which sunk the Cubs deeper with a 10-0 deficit.
Nemaha Central went with Cain again to begin the second quarter when he rumbled in for a four-yard touchdown rush for the 16-0 Thunder lead.
“There wasn’t a whole lot different on film than what we expected,” Wyrick said. “They’re big up front, they’ve got a big back and that’s what’s helped them have a lot of success this year. I think we left ourselves a little vulnerable at times, being a little out of position. When you’ve got big backs like that we’ve got to tackle better and be aligned a little bit better.”
Humboldt’s Sommer then found Hull for a 38-yard touchdown connection four minutes into the second quarter. The score cut the Humboldt deficit to 10 points after a failed two-point conversion, 16-6. 
The Thunder got another touchdown rush from Uphaus as he sped in from seven yards out for the second quarter 24-6 lead.
Sommer would connect with Hull one more time before the end of the half on a 38-yard touchdown pass down the home sideline to slice the deficit to 24-12.
Cooper Hajek put Nemaha Central on the board only a few minutes later on an eight-yard touchdown rush to extend the lead to 32-12.
The Cubs came up with a big defensive stop near the end of the third quarter when the defense forced a Nemaha Central fumble at the two-yard line. The fumble halted the chance for another Thunder touchdown.
