CHADRON, Neb. - Chadron beat Central City 17-14 in the first round of the Nebraska Class C1 high school football playoffs on Thursday.

Central City's Matt Clausen got the scoring going with a 46-yard touchdown reception from Chris Schuller. The Bison, however, failed to convert on the extra point and led 6-0 early in the game.

Chadron took a 7-6 lead later with 3:03 to go in the first on Cody Roes' 56-yard TD catch from quarterback John McLain.

The Cardinals held on to the one-point lead through halftime and widened the margin to 14-6 when McLain found the end zone from 1-yard out with 1:07 to go in the third quarter.

Bill Margrave then gave the hosts a 17-3 lead with a 44-yard field goal early in the fourth, before the Bison closed out the game's scoring on Sam Kuck's 3-yard run with 4:16 remaining in the game.

McLain went 8-for-16 for 139 yards with two interceptions for Chadron. Travis Reeves carried the ball 20 times for 113 yards, and Roes added three catches for 85 yards and nine rushes for 35 yards.

Shuller went 18-for-28 for 202 yards with one interception for Central City. Clay Brockmeier (five catches for 48 yards), Kyle Hanquist (5-32) and Clausen (4-74) led the

Bison in receiving.

The Cardinals out-rushed the Bison 167-75.

Central City finished the season with a 5-4 record.

Chadron, the No. 2 seed in the lower bracket, improved to 9-0. The Cardinals host Adams Central (8-1) in a second-round game on Wednesday.