Bellevue takes Lisbon down to final play in Class A football playoff opener

LISBON — With four seconds remaining and the ball at the Lisbon 17, Bellevue’s Cole Heim received the shotgun snap, and let it fly. As the ball sailed through the air, each sideline was keenly aware that its ultimate destination would decide the fate of two teams.

“Go to the ground or intercept it,” Lisbon Coach Phil Whitman said. “Knock it down.”

Whitman’s wish was granted. Kaden Caspers batted the ball down and sent the Lisbon sideline into a frenzy.

In a game that saw five lead changes, the last one belonged to Lisbon (8-1). The Class A No. 4 Lions hung on tight to beat Bellevue, 30-27, Friday night at Lisbon in a first-round Class A playoff game.

“It’s mind-boggling,” Lisbon running back Max Kohl said. “It’s an adrenaline rush. We couldn’t do it without the atmosphere we had tonight.”

Kohl had a large say in the outcome. The Comets (5-4) stormed back from a 24-14 third-quarter deficit and were holding onto a 27-24 lead when Lisbon took over at the Comets’ 41 with 3:42 remaining.

As he did all night, when the Lions needed a big play, Kohl answered the call.

Quarterback Gavin Wollum picked up 2 yards on a sneak on fourth-and-1. Then Kohl ripped off a 13-yard run to set the Lions up with first-and-goal at the 10. Two plays later, Kohl burst through a hole up the middle from 8 yards out to put Lisbon on top with 55 seconds left. It was his third touchdown of the night following scores from 45 and 24 yards out. Kohl added three two-point conversions.

“I wouldn’t have had the performance I had if I didn’t have the line,” Kohl said.

With Bellevue’s pass-heavy offense, the Comets knew they had a shot. Despite Lisbon coming into the night allowing just 8.5 points per game, Heim and his two favorite targets — Alex Pitts and Sieverding — gave the Lions fits. Pitts had three catch-and-runs that went for 30 yards or more. Sieverding gashed Lisbon for a handful of receptions at 10 to 15 yards a pop.

With just 55 seconds left, Bellevue took over at the Lisbon 35, and within 16 seconds had moved it to the Lions’ 36. After a pair of passes to Sieverding, the Comets found themselves at the Lisbon 17. After clocking the ball, the Comets had two cracks at the end zone with 10 seconds left. The first sailed incomplete to the left sideline. Caspers put an end to the second.

“It was a great football game,” Whitman said. “(Bellevue) is good. They’ve got some studs and they definitely proved it.”

Lisbon 30, Bellevue 27

Bellevue 14 0 6 7 – 27

Lisbon 8 8 8 6 – 30

B – Colby Sieverding 27 run (Gavin Roling kick).

L – Max Kohl 45 run (Kohl run)

B – Alex Pitts 65 pass from Cole Heim (Roling kick).

L – Kohl 24 run (Kohl run).

L – Gavin Wollum 1 run (Kohl run).

B – Sieverding 12 pass from Heim (kick blocked).

B – Sieverding 3 run (Roling kick).

L – Kohl 8 run (run failed).

B, L

First Downs 15, 13

Rushes-Yards 32-94, 41-259

Comp-Att-Int 15-22-1, 1-9-1

Pass Yards 225, 12

Total Yards 319, 271

Fumbles-Lost 2-0, 4-1

Penalties-Yards 3-24, 6-63

Punts-Avg 3-30.7, 2-43.0

Rushing – Bellevue: Colby Sieverding 16-83, Cole Heim 15-7, Jacob Waller 1-4. Lisbon: Gavin Wollum 14-52, Max Kohl 19-179, Kaden Caspers 1-7, Jamien Moore 7-21.

Passing – Bellevue: Heim 15-22-225-1. Lisbon: Wollum 1-7-12-1, Cohen Kamaus 0-2-0-0.

Receiving – Bellevue: Alex Pitts 6-144, Sieverding 8-73, Tyler Nemmers 1-8. Lisbon: Caspers 1-12.