KEARNEY, Neb. — The Kearney High Bearcats used tough defense and high-level special teams play to beat Omaha North 13-6 on Friday night.

The #9 Bearcats (3-1) earned their best win of the year and put a disappointing 52-3 loss to Millard South behind them with the victory. They held the #4 Vikings (2-2) to a season-low six points.

Kearney’s defense allowed yards in the middle of the field but stiffened up when North approached the red zone. The Bearcats forced turnovers on downs at the 24 and 28 yard lines and managed an interception at the 23 yard line in the first half.

Kearney opened the scoring with a special teams play. Levi Pofahl blocked a punt and Keeghan Hunt picked it up for a touchdown. The Bearcats missed the extra point.

After compiling just 30 yards of offense through most of the half, Kearney unleashed an 81-yard touchdown drive at the end of the second quarter. Linebacker Sawyer Schilke entered as a fullback and carried it in from two yards out to make it 13-0.

Omaha North finally found the end zone in the fourth quarter. Darion Jones reached over the top of a defender to haul in a 31-yard pass from Mikey Gow for a score. The Vikings missed the extra point, making it 13-6.

A couple possessions later, the Bearcats again forced a turnover on downs. Then, quarterback Griffin Novacek ran for 22 yards on a third down to allow Kearney to run out the clock.