Football Recap: North Bend Central Drops Highest Score of Season Against Aquinas

Tigers

Team Score (Highest)

10/10/25 @ Aquinas	46
09/19/25 @ West Point-Beemer	28
09/12/25 vs Norfolk Catholic	26
09/26/25 @ Tekamah-Herman	22
10/03/25 vs Arlington	14

Winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask North Bend Central). They snuck past the Aquinas Monarchs with a 46-40 win on Friday. This was payback for the Tigers, who suffered a 43-22 defeat the last time these two teams met.

North Bend Central found their leader in sophomore Drew Sterup, who rushed for 148 yards and three TDs while picking up 7.0 yards per carry, and also threw for 346 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Those three rushing touchdowns set a new season-high mark for Sterup. North Bend Central's leading receiver Dustin Zakovec was Sterup's top target yet again, picking up 194 receiving yards and one score.

North Bend Central was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 228 rushing yards. That's a new trend for them: they were averaging 71.8 rushing yards per game earlier this season, but in their last five games they've averaged 160.3.

Aquinas' loss came despite a true team effort from the offense with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Elijah Moulton, who rushed for 76 yards and one touchdown on only nine carries, and also picked up 43 receiving yards and one TD. Jarin Thege got in on the action too, converting a pick into a touchdown.

North Bend Central's record now sits at 3-4. As for Aquinas, they are on an eight-game losing streak (dating back to last season) that has dropped them down to 0-7.

Looking ahead, North Bend Central will face off against Bergan Catholic on Friday. The Knights will roll in looking for their fifth straight victory, something the Tigers surely won't give up without a fight. As for Aquinas, they will challenge Yutan on Friday.