‘The way we play is just different’: Beatrice football works to stay consistent

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The 2021 season was a year of adjustment for Beatrice football as the team worked to learn the schemes of a new coaching staff.

But this year, head coach Jeff Kezeor says things are looking good and he’s impressed with the talent and energy of his team.

He said both staff and player confidence is there, and now it comes down to the basics.

Kezeor believes the team’s “biggest challenge right now” is consistency.

“As a whole, we’ve grown, but we just got to, again, rally around that consistency,” he said.

One component setting the Orangemen apart is their offense. Senior linebacker and tight end Tucker Timmerman said they “take pride in their run game.”

“We have a great running back and a great offensive line that will make great big holes for him and then everybody else, and then we got guys behind us that will help as well,” Timmerman said. “We’ve brought back a lot of the old style of Beatrice football. We’ve been running the ball a lot more, trying to be the tougher team on the field and out-tough everybody.”

Kezeor is also teaching what it means to play for the Beatrice community. He says the team often talks about embracing tradition and what it means to be an Orangeman.

Senior wide receiver and safety Luke Feist says that playing football in Beatrice is “special” and that the bond from the team growing up together shows on the field.

“The way we play is just different from a lot of people in this state,” Feist said. “Just our offense and everything, but also our energy, and also the fact that we’ve been playing with each other since we were little. I feel like we’ve just built that chemistry up our whole lives.”

Timmerman says the Orangemen are ready for their first game against Gross Catholic on Aug. 26.

“Beatrice people love football, so on Friday nights the whole place is packed,” he said. “Sometimes the whole home side gets so filled up, some people have to sit on the visitor side.”