A second half surge wasn’t enough for the Chadron High football team as they dropped their opener of the C1 playoffs 28-20 to Battle Creek on Friday afternoon at Cardinal Field.

The Cardinals got on the board first off of a deep pass from Justus Alcorn to Seth Gaswick on the first drive of the game to go on top 6-0, but Battle Creek answered with four straight touchdowns that stretched into the 3rd quarter.

As the Braves were putting together another drive in the 3rd, Gaswick scooped up a Battle Creek fumble and returned it to the Chadron 6-yard line. Three plays later Dawson Dunbar would find the endzone to cut the deficit in half.

The Cards would turn Battle Creek over again deep in Braves territory, having 1st and goal from the 9, but failed to convert the opportunity into points.

Chadron cashed in on a 3rd Battle Creek fumble in the 4th quarter as Alcorn connected with a sliding Quinn Bailey to pull the Cards within 28-20.

Chadron would have one more chance after forcing a 3 and out and returning the punt to near midfield, but a fumble with time running down on 4th and 25 would end any hopes the Cards had.

Chadron ends the season at 9-1 while Battle Creek will advance to the quarterfinals to meet the winner of Columbus Scotus and Fort Calhoun.