SIDNEY – A Sidney football team that rarely committed turnovers all season, threw five interceptions and lost one fumble in a semifinal playoff loss to Central City Friday night at a packed Weymouth Field. Leading 12-8 at halftime, the Red Raiders committed five turnovers on six second half drives to fall 29-12 to the Bison.

In an omen of tribulations to come, Sidney’s first turnover came just 1:32 into the game on an interception by Central City’s Truman Ryan at the Sidney 43 and returned to the Red Raider 36. As they have all season, the Sidney defense held the Bison to -4 yards on their possession, forcing a Central City punt.

Sidney’s started over at their own 20 after Central City’s punt rolled into the end zone. Ther Red Raiders moved the ball to the Bison 47 in nine plays, but faced fourth and four and were forced to punt. The Bison started their second possession of the game at their own 17. On second and four from the Bison 36, quarterback Parker Zikmund found tight end Turner Hanke at the Central City 48 and the sophomore streaked down the right sideline 52 yards for the Bison’s first touchdown. Following a 2-point conversion, Central City led 8-0.

Sidney wasted little time in responding. The Bison’s line-drive kickoff was fielded by sophomore Rhys Dorcey at the Sidney 25 and was returned to the Central City 48. Six plays later Owen Gillham ran into the end zone from four yards out to put Sidney on the board. Sidney’s 2-point conversion attempt failed, but the Red Raiders had cut the Bison lead to 8-6.

Central City’s first turnover of the game occurred their third play from scrimmage at the start of the second quarter. After a holding penalty moved the Bison back to their own 24, Keian Kaiser leaped up and intercepted a Central City pass at the Bison 36 and returned it to the 29 yard line. Eight plays later, on fourth and goal at the five, Quarterback Alek Doty found Reid Fiscus in the end zone to give Sidney the lead. Another unsuccessful 2-point conversion attempt left the score Sidney 12, Central City 8. That’s where the score remained through halftime.

Central City, who deferred their option to the second half. A 15-yard pass from Zikmund to Truman Ryan capped a 74-yard, 13 play drive on the Bison’s initial possession of the third period to regain the lead. Following the PAT kick, Central City led 15-12.

Despite three interceptions and turning the ball over on downs once over the next 18 minutes of the game, Sidney still trailed by only three points. That changed with 2:14 remaining in the game when Bison running back Corbin Kyes broke free for a 54-yard touchdown run to extend Central City’s lead to 22-12. Following a fumble on Sidney’s next play from scrimmage, Kyes dashed 13 yards for another score to make the final score Central City 29, Sidney 12.

Owen Gillham paced the Red Raiders with 150 yards on 31 carries and one touchdown. Doty, who threw only four interceptions all season, had multiple catchable balls turn into inceptions, The junior finished 12 of 36 for 97 yards, one touchdown and five interceptions. Parker Zikmund led the Bison completing 17 of 28 passes for 171 yards. Sidney held running back Corbin Kyes to just 71 yards until he broke free on his last two carries. The junior finished with 142 yards on 25 carries and two touchdowns.

Sidney ends their season at 11-1 while the Bison improve to 11-1 and will face top-ranked Wahoo in the C-1 state championship game on November 26th at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. Wahoo (12-0) advanced to the state title game with a dominating 59-7 win over Auburn.