08/30/2025
Friday night was meant to be one of the biggest in Douglas County West history. The Falcons unveiled their brand-new sports complex under the glow of fresh stadium lights, welcomed back Husker legends Eric Crouch and Alex Henery, and played in front of a packed, energized community.
But amid the excitement of the grand opening, it was the Ashland-Greenwood Bluejays who delivered the night’s defining performance, turning in a complete effort on both sides of the ball to secure a 48-0 victory.
While the final score was lopsided, it came on a night where the bigger picture went beyond football—the debut of a facility that will serve DC West athletes and fans for generations.
Offense: Precision and Power
Ashland-Greenwood’s offense struck early and never let up. Senior quarterback Derek Tonjes, cool as an October evening, was surgical, completing 10 of 12 passes for 234 yards and 4 touchdowns. His rhythm with Senior wide receiver Cal Kissinger was nearly unstoppable. Kissinger finished with 5 catches for 139 yards and 3 touchdowns, highlighted by a dazzling 75-yard strike in the third quarter that silenced the crowd. Kissinger’s ability to create separation was impressive.
Meanwhile, the Bluejays’ offensive line—anchored by Barret Kitrell, Bennett Kush, Peyton Groteluschen, Jack Johnson, Joe Greise, Andrew Beranek, Caleb Schinck, and Kyler Roeber—controlled the line of scrimmage all night, clearing paths large enough for a 1970’s Pontiac Bonneville to drive through and giving their quarterback plenty of time to operate in the pocket.
Senior running back Cael Smith turned those lanes into points, carrying 9 times for 80 yards and 2 touchdowns while also contributing 60 receiving yards.
In all, the Bluejays piled up 427 total yards—237 through the air and 190 on the ground. Smith, I’m certain, slept well last night- no melatonin needed after that effort on both sides of the ball.
Defense: Relentless Effort
The Bluejays’ defense matched the offense’s intensity, holding DC West to just 104 yards of total offense. Much of the defensive game plan focused on limiting Falcons’ talented Swiss army knife of a player, senior Nolan Asher, and keeping him in check. After an early reception from the Senior, Asher never got another.
Cael Smith’s impact carried over to defense as well, where he recorded 7 tackles and an interception. Junior linebacker Jack Johnson lived up to his “Jack Hammer” nickname, tallying 5 tackles and a fumble recovery.
The Bluejays’ pass rush never gave DC West’s quarterbacks room to breathe. The X-Man, Xavier Mayer, Joe Greise, and Bennett Kush each recorded sacks, while senior defensive back Landon Mohs, known as the Professor, showcased his playmaking ability with a 46-yard interception return for a touchdown in the third quarter. Mohs recorded a remarkable 8 picks a year ago- only to start off with yet another in this young season.
For Ashland-Greenwood, this game turned into sending a message that they are ready to contend at a high level this season. The Bluejays combined efficiency, discipline, and explosiveness in a way that set the tone for the year ahead.
In the end, the scoreboard reflected the Bluejays’ dominance, but both programs walked away with something significant—Ashland-Greenwood with confidence in its potential, and DC West with a facility that will inspire future Falcons for decades.
To listen to the archive of the game, here’s the link. Go to ON DEMAND https://portal.stretchinternet.com/agbluejays/
📊 Final Stats
Final Score
Ashland-Greenwood 48, Douglas County West 0
📅 Friday, August 29, 2025
Scoring Recap
• Q1 – Tonjes ➡️ Kissinger, 26-yd TD (Schinck PAT)
• Q2 – Tonjes ➡️ Kissinger, 21-yd TD (PAT good)
– Smith 5-yd TD run (PAT good)
– Smith 7-yd TD run (PAT good)
• Q3 – Tonjes ➡️ Kissinger, 75-yd TD (PAT good)
– Mohs 46-yd Pick-6 (PAT no good)
• Q4 – Tonjes ➡️ Hatzenbuehler, 18-yd TD (PAT good)
Team Totals (AGHS)
• Passing: 11/13, 237 yds, 4 TD
• Rushing: 29 car, 190 yds, 2 TD
• Receiving: 11 rec, 237 yds, 4 TD
• All-Purpose Yards: 521
• Total Yards: 427 (190 rush / 237 pass)
• Defense: 52 tackles, 5 TFL, 3 sacks, 2 INTs, 1 FR
• Special Teams: 6/7 PAT, 356 KO yds, 1 punt for 38 yds
Passing
• Tonjes (Sr): 10/12, 234 yds, 4 TD
• Cerny (So): 1/1, 3 yds
Rushing
• Smith (Sr): 9 car, 80 yds, 2 TD
• Nolan (So): 6 car, 42 yds
• Mundt (Jr): 7 car, 22 yds
• Others: Spears 15, Tonjes 17, Cerny 14
Receiving
• Kissinger (Sr): 5 rec, 139 yds, 3 TD
• Smith: 2 rec, 60 yds
• Hatzenbuehler: 1 rec, 18 yds, TD
• Others: Fangmeyer 10, Miller 7, Cormier 3
Defense
• Smith (Sr): 7 tackles, 1 INT
• Mohs (Sr): 3 tackles, Pick-6 (46 yds)
• Johnson (Jr): 5 tackles, 1 fumble recovery
• Mayer (Sr): 3 tackles, 1 sack
• Kush (So): 3 tackles, 1 sack
• Greise (Sr): 1 sack
Special Teams
• Schinck (So): 6/7 PAT, 8 kickoffs, 44.5 avg
• Mohs (Sr): 1 punt, 38 yds (inside 20)
• Smith: 1 KR (17 yds), 1 PR fair catch
Scoring Breakdown
• 7 touchdowns (2 rush, 4 pass, 1 INT return)
– Kissinger 3
– Smith 2
– Hatzenbuehler 1
– Mohs 1
