“Ultimately, we didn’t do that, ….

“Ultimately, we didn’t do that, but it’s hard to run a flawless offense and flawless defense for 48 minutes.”

The Hornets continued to keep the Falcons out of the endzone in the third, and with 3:22 to go before the fourth, Mason Voss scored on a five yard pick up. A Brost PAT made it 42-0.

In the fourth quarter Abby finally got on board. Falteisek and JV Castillo drove the Falcons into the Red Zone, and Jake Hirsch finished off the drive with a five yard scoring scamper.

A successful two-point conversion from Abbotsford made it 42-8. Gavin Voss become the sixth Hornet to score on the evening after he punched the ball into the endzone off a four-yard carry.

With the loss, the Falcons’ record drops to 6-5 on the season, but no matter how you look at it, the 2021 season was a vast improvement for Abby, especially given 2020’s COVID-19 marred year.

“We obviously are happy to make playoffs and get our nine games, but bittersweet end as always, with losing our senior crew,” Knapmiller said. “They made a huge impact on me, and on the young ones, and honestly rejuvenated me as a coach with their focus and willingness to sacrifice!”

Falteisek finished with 98 yards on the night. His 1,527 yards in just nine games is one of the top single season rushing performances in Abby history.

Meanwhile, Brent Jeske’s 145 yards on 14 carries leaves him less than 60-yards from 1,000. Mason Voss is also closing in on 1,000 rushing yards thanks to his 55-yards, eight carry performance against the Falcons.

Caden Healy added another 62-yards while Brody Decker hauled in two receptions for 32-yards and a score as the Hornets piled up nearly 400 yards.

Tristan Stange and Brent Jeske led Colby’s defense with eight tackles, along with Pierce Geiger’s seven.

Conrad Flink, a senior on the Abbotsford squad, aptly summed up the Falcons’ season, a season in which multiple pundits wondered if this would be a down year for Abby.

Flink said that he, like the Falcons, felt Abbotsford showed just how much talent is there, and will return, in 2022.

“It felt great that I could show what I could do, show people that I’m more than what they think I am. This season felt like I lifted a weight off my chest.”

Colby’s march through the playoffs continues, with a rematch with the Auburndale Eagles, a team Colby defeated 54-7 in their regular season finale.

But the Hornets take no team lightly, and after upsetting two higher seeded teams already, Hagen and his Hornets are taking the Eagles seriously.

“We now have to keep our focus up this week as we prepare for Auburndale once again,” Hagen stated. “They are playing well as they have all season, and have beaten two higher ranked opponents so far in the play-offs.”