Braves

Football

State Champions

1981 1986 1987 1992

Coaches History College Athletes

Football Through the Years

The moments that built the Braves — from the first conference crown in 1951 to the bloodlines that reached Lincoln.

1934

The Battle Creek Terrors

Before they were the Braves, Battle Creek took the field as the Terrors — the 1934 squad that anchored the program's earliest days and gave the town its first Friday-night identity.

1951

Cornbelt Conference Champions

The Braves closed the season undefeated — seven wins and one scoreless tie at Madison, outscoring opponents 212-15. Coach Kirwan's squad claimed the Cornbelt Conference title behind 18 lettermen, including honorary captains Darrell Knapp and Dick Gall. The streak — and the conference crown — were now Battle Creek's to defend.

1952

Second Straight Cornbelt Crown

The Braves rolled over Tilden 25-0 to clinch their second straight Cornbelt Conference title — the 19th consecutive victory. Pete Doering fired a 54-yard touchdown pass to Roger Warner, Harlen Prauner snagged one and went over standing up, Bill Doering plunged in from the one, and Pete Smith took a pass from Glen Reed and sprinted eight yards to pay dirt. A line led by Kenneth Clemens, Allan Prauner, and Fred Carstens held Tilden to 156 yards rushing and never let the Brave goal line be threatened.

1953

27 in a Row

The Braves opened the season with a 19-7 win at Wakefield — their 24th consecutive victory. After losing the first two contests of 1950, Battle Creek won every game since. The streak finally ended at 27 against Wisner, but the run put Battle Creek on the Nebraska football map.

1962

The Schnitzler Era Begins

Bob Schnitzler is hired as head coach — the beginning of a legendary era of Battle Creek athletics.

1967

Undefeated

The 1967 Braves ran the table unbeaten — a perfect season that stood as one of the program's signature campaigns of the era.

1981

First State Championship

Battle Creek's first state title. The Braves claimed the crown and set the standard for every championship team that followed.

Sep 21, 1985

The Schnitzler Brothers

Brothers Robb and Craig Schnitzler both score for the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the Memorial Stadium game against Illinois — the first time a brother tandem scored points in the same game for Nebraska.