NEBRASKA CITY - The Nebraska City football team scored 20 unanswered points in the final six minutes to prevail over Lincoln Christian, 51-41, Friday night at Pioneer Field in Nebraska City.

The Pioneers got off to a blazing start, scoring two touchdowns in 12 game seconds to go up 12-0 with 8:11 in the first.

The Crusaders' vaunted triple option attack found its groove, though, late in the first and into the second quarter. Jonas Burgher had two 25+ yards TD runs in that span, with a 2 yard TD dive by Ethan Berrier sandwiched between them. The scoreboard read 24-20 Pioneers at halftime.

The Crusaders' took their first lead at the 7:12 mark in the third quarter on a 1 yard plunge by Berrier. Moving into the fourth quarter, a 44 yard scamper by Burgher stretched the LC lead to 41-31 with 6:30 remaining in the contest.

The Pioneers refused to go down quietly, however, and they cut the Crusaders' lead to three after an Alfredo Valquier 1 yard TD. Landon Adam's then burst through the middle for a 29 yard TD run to retake the lead for the Pioneers at 4:06, and a few minutes later the deciding blow was delivered on a 4 yard TD reception by Braden Thompson with 1:30 remaining in the fourth, bringing the final score to 51-41.

Pioneers QB Jordan Williams tossed three touchdowns and ran for three more. Eli Southard had another 100 yard receiving game and a touchdown. The Cusaders' Berrier and Burgher both rushed for three touchdowns.

Lincoln Christian finished the 2019 season with a 1-8 record. Nebraska City posted a winning record at 5-4, but just missed out on the Class C1 playoffs.

-Matt English