Alburnett overcomes slow start against Bellevue in Class A playoffs

ALBURNETT — Alburnett was cold at the start.

Ice cold, actually. The Pirates defense struggled to stop Bellevue, while the offense made uncharacteristic mistakes that Coach Rich Valezquez hadn’t see from the district champions this year.

The thaw took about a quarter and then the Pirates started to warm up. Once they caught fire, they scorched the Comets.

No. 10 Alburnett overcame a double-digit deficit with four touchdowns in the second quarter, including three Mason Neighbor touchdown passes, to take the lead for good and defeat Bellevue, 38-27, in the first round of the Class A playoffs Friday night at Jim Carver Field of Martin Sports Complex.

“We came out slow,” Velazquez said. “We were able to adjust and then we were able to do what we know we could do.”

Maybe it was the pressure that comes along with a district title, the emotional letdown from last week’s overtime thriller against Columbus Community or just butterflies.

“We’re a young team and it’s a big game,” Alburnett sophomore lineman Josiah Steen said. “We got nervous and came out flat. The jitters went away. It was better after the first few plays.”

The Pirates righted the ship with a three-and-out on Bellevue’s third possession, allowing two Jaden Baskin 5-yard TD runs that made it 13-0. Alburnett seemed to find a rhythm offensively and defensively.

Alburnett followed with a 72-yard, eight-play scoring drive. Neighbor rolled to his left and hit Grayson Carolan cutting across the field for a 21-yard TD with 10:01 left in the second quarter.

“I think after that we decided to finally wake up,” Neighbor said. “It’s the playoffs. If we lose, we go home. We got our heads in the game and pushed forward. Once we got a couple passes going we went on from there.”

Neighbor’s start was indicative of the Pirates’. He missed on his first four attempts and completed just one of his first six. Neighbor connected on 10 straight passes that covered more than 160 yards over that stretch.

“I like to roll out a lot,” Neighbor said. “It helps me see the field better.”

The next two scores came off short fields. The teams traded turnovers and Bellevue was forced to punt from its own end zone in consecutive series. Alburnett capitalized with one-play scoring drives from the Bellevue 31 and the 21.

Neighbor found Carolan on a fly pattern for a 31-yard TD to give Alburnett a 14-13 lead with 4:52 left. Neighbor hit Brody Neighbor on a short pass in the flat before he turned it up field and then rammed his way across the goal line.

The Pirates wanted to strike immediately after the prime field position.

“Once we score, we just keep our offense rolling,” Mason Neighbor said. “We know our receivers will show up every single game. We just have to trust them to make the catch and get in the end zone.”

Brody Neighbor added a 1-yard plunge with 14 seconds left for a 28-13 lead at the half.

Mason Neighbor added a 16-yard TD pass, completing a screen pass to a wide-open Carson Klostermann with 6:32 remaining to seal it. He finished with 278 yards, including 76 on four completions to Carolan and 68 to Rory McGargill. Klostermann added 70 rushing yards.

The senior quarterback was the calm and steady force again for Alburnett (8-1).

“Again, he took us on his shoulders,” Velazquez said. “He helped us lead us to this victory.”

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com