HERMANN — The Hermann Bearcats rode a strong defensive showing and a consistent run game to their fourth straight victory to start the season, defeating the visiting New Madrid County Central Eagles in a matinee game Saturday, Sep. 21, by the final score of 27-6.

Hermann (4-0) averaged 4.33 yards per carry on their 42 rushing attempts against New Madrid County Central (0-4) for a total of 182 yards and three touchdowns.

“I was pleased with our physical effort running the ball offensively, and then having many stops and creating turnovers defensively,” Hermann head coach Jed Leeper said.

They were forced to lean on their running backs early on in Saturday’s game thanks to injuries to quarterbacks Henry Allebach and Trent Chasteen. Allebach’s injury kept him out of the game entirely giving Chasteen his first start of the year despite his own injury limiting his throwing ability.

After forcing a turnover on downs on Central’s first possession of the game, the Bearcats got their run game off to a quick start when Aiden Eikermann took the handoff from Chasteen and broke away through the middle, shedding multiple tackles on his way to a long touchdown run on Hermann’s first play of the game.

While such large rushing plays were not frequent, the Bearcats would rely heavily on their multifaceted run offense to grind out their possessions and grind down their opponents by methodically working the ball downfield throughout the game.

Eight different Bearcats got at least two touches against the Eagles with five of them recording at least 10 yards on the ground.

Eikermann would lead his team with 98 rushing yards and, with a second touchdown toward the end of the first quarter to put Hermann up 14-0, would also finish with a team-leading two rushing scores.

The Bearcats offensive line played an important role in their success running the ball, but their defensive line also played a pivotal role in their defensive performance against an Eagles team that, at times, showed the ability to pass the ball with great effect.

Central started the game with a long passing play and would continue to attempt to pass the ball with regularity but were often unable to connect on their longer passing attempts thanks to the tenacious pass rush Hermann brought throughout the game.

The defense as a whole made their presence felt all over the field, including a fumble recovery by Cole Traub at the end of the first quarter when the Eagles had first-and-goal from the Hermann five yard line, ending their first major scoring threat.

A long touchdown run by Kohlt Witthaus put Hermann up 20-0 with around five minutes left in the second quarter, and Nolan Mercier’s interception just outside the redzone ended Central’s last chance to get on the board in the first half, allowing them to take their 20-0 lead into halftime.

Central would eventually score late in the third quarter after taking over with good field position on an interception to cut Hermann’s lead to 20-6, but the Bearcat defense would not allow another good scoring opportunity for the Eagles.

After forcing a turnover on downs at the Central 35-yard line, Hermann freshman quarterback Carter Humphrey got into the game and promptly connected with Traub to set them up with a first-and-goal at the nine-yard line.

After having a touchdown pass to Daeden Hopkins negated due to offensive pass interference, Hermann pulled out a bit of trickery facing a fourth-and-long with about six minutes left in the game.

The Bearcats executed a double pass with Humphrey first throwing to Traub out to his right and Traub then finding Mercier wide open near the endzone for their fourth touchdown of the game and what would end up being their only touchdown through the air.

Mercier would then come up with his second interception on a bobbled pass to end the Eagles’ next drive, and another interception by Traub shortly thereafter killed off any hope of a comeback.

Central punted from their own endzone with less than a minute left and Hermann went into victory formation to kneel out their 27-6 win.

Hermann has now completed their non-conference schedule and will begin their Four Rivers Conference games in earnest, starting with Owensville on the road.

“Excited to see how we stack up with the always tough Four Rivers Conference,” Leeper said. “The goal is to improve each and every week and we will get to face that challenge over the next five weeks against teams 1-2 classes larger than us.”

As for their quarterback situation in the coming weeks, Leeper said it is a “wait and see situation”, adding “we will be ready for anything”.

Hermann’s next game will be Friday, Sep. 27, on the road against Owensville at 7 p.m.

Friday’s game will also be homecoming for the winless Dutchmen team that is looking for their first win against the Bearcats since 2020.