Bears Advance to Section Championship for the First Time Since 2009

by Coach Jared Hoemberg

The Bertha-Hewitt Bears continued their historic season this past week with two playoff victories — a 38-6 win over McGregor on Tuesday and a thrilling 26-22 comeback victory over Ogilvie on Saturday night. The pair of wins advances the Bears to the Section 5 9-Man Championship for the first time since 2009, marking a monumental milestone for the program.

The week began with the first-round matchup against the McGregor Mercuries, who came in with an effective offensive plan that challenged the Bears early. “McGregor came ready to play,” said Head Coach Jared Hoemberg. “They had a great game plan to attack our defense, but our guys stayed disciplined. We bent at times, but we didn’t break.”

After stopping McGregor on their opening drive, the Bears wasted no time swinging momentum their way. On the very next offensive play, Bertha-Hewitt broke loose for a 90-yard touchdown run, igniting the home crowd and setting the tone for the night. From there, the Bears’ offense took over, building a commanding 30-0 halftime lead.

The second half saw the Bears continue to dominate in all phases, ultimately cruising to a 38-6 victory. The win gave the coaching staff an opportunity to get younger players valuable postseason experience. “It’s always great when you can get some of your young guys on the field in a playoff atmosphere,” Hoemberg said. “Those moments help build the future of this program.”

Then came Saturday night — a game that will be remembered in Bertha-Hewitt football history for years to come. Facing the #3-seeded Ogilvie Lions, the Bears found themselves in a dogfight from the opening kick.

Bertha-Hewitt struck first, marching down the field for a touchdown on the opening possession. But from that point on, the first half belonged to Ogilvie. The Lions controlled the line of scrimmage, ripped off multiple long plays, and held the Bears’ offense in check. By halftime, Ogilvie led 22-6, and it was clear the Bears needed to regroup...

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