CRETE, Neb. – In the longest standing Nebraska college football rivalry, the Hastings College Broncos defense made two huge goal line stands in the second half to down Doane in the 2025 season opener. 

Saturday's game was the 124th meeting between the two programs since 1891, with Doane having won five out of the last six years, and a 40-3 win over Hastings last year. 

Doane got some momentum in the first quarter with an interception by sophomore Andrew Brown, but neither team got on the scoreboard in the first 15 minutes. 

The Broncos drove seven plays on 80 yards in their first second quarter drive to break the scoring on a six-yard rushing touchdown by Kaiden Merryman to take a 6-0 lead. 

The Tigers looking to respond, threw two interceptions by QB Sam Hartman in the second quarter, with one of them being returned for a pick-six by sophomore Brice Chaplin to take a 13-0 lead. 

Hastings College blocked a Doane punt and scored two plays with less than a minute left before halftime to go up 20-0 at half. 

In the third quarter, the Tigers had the ball at the Hastings one-yard line twice, put the Broncos defense stuffed them on both times to keep Doane off the scoreboard. 

With defenses leading the rest of the way, Doane could only muster a Sam Hartman rushing touchdown with 8:23 in the 4th quarter to make the final 20-7, and give Hastings College their first win vs. Doane since 2022. 

Hastings College's running backs ran for 195 yards en route to the win.

The next Doane Football broadcast on NCN TV is slated for Sat. Sept. 13 against Dordt. 

 

SCORE BY QUARTER

Doane - 0 0 0 7

Hastings - 0 20 0 0