To hear Hanover senior Michael Nimeskern speak of a dislocated knee prompts thoughts of an action movie protagonist shrugging off an attack as if it’s but a mere pinch on the arm.
The 5-foot-8-inch, 187-pound defensive end helped power the Indians to a 40-7 rout of two-time Super Bowl champion Holliston in Friday’s Division 3 South final. With the win, the Indians locked up a date against Triton in a state semifinal Saturday afternoon in Brockton.
The final score was indicative of a breezy walk in the park, but the condition of Nimeskern’s knee indicated otherwise.
“I was playing tight end [on the second play of the game], wing left, and everyone was just getting pushed down,’’ recalled Nimeskern. “I was blocking and my [left] knee just buckled and got inverted.’’
The senior knew how to cope.
On the first snap of his 2015 campaign against Oliver Ames, Nimeskern injured his right knee. The rest of his season was spent as a spectator.
“[It was] a dislocated kneecap,’’ Nimeskern said. “I watched my team on crutches [as they] fought through to the end. It was great this year to work my heart out trying to get back into the best shape I can.’’
A helpless feeling indeed. Nimeskern was unable to assist his team as it advanced to the state semifinals, where it fell to Holliston.
Nimeskern vowed to exact his revenge when Hanover once again drew the Panthers — both schools moving up to Division 3 — in the South final. Another knee popping out of place, this time the left rather than the right, wasn’t going to stop him.
“It was pretty grueling, but I had to play that game,’’ Nimeskern said.
“I had a lot of strain on it and I couldn’t really cut hard. I couldn’t play last year so I gave it my all this game.’’
After having his knee taped, the captain returned.
Late in the first quarter with the game scoreless and Holliston threatening, Nimeskern did what he couldn’t a year prior, stripping Panthers senior Sam Athy at the Indians’ 6-yard line.
“In the first quarter we were all getting the jitters out still,’’ said Nimeskern. “When I forced the fumble it just changed the momentum of the game and we built off that. After that our quarterback [Wyatt Shisler] had two nice runs and [running back Brad Rogers] ran it into the end zone.’’
That was all Hanover (9-0) needed. After a three and out on the ensuing Holliston possession, Rogers broke a 61-yarder for his second score, and a 14-0 cushion. Hanover was not threatened the rest of the way.
“It was the best feeling ever,’’ Nimeskern said.
“All the fans came out to support us. We knew before the game how big it was and we just played our hearts out. Everyone just feeds off each other.’’
Asked if he’ll be ready Saturday with a Super Bowl ticket on the line, Nimeskern left no room for misinterpretation.
“Oh yeah. No doubt.’’
Here are the other state semifinal matchups scheduled for Saturday: Division 2 — Beverly vs. Duxbury (Cawley Stadium, Lowell, 1:30); Shrewsbury vs. Westfield (Westfield State, 2 p.m.); Division 2A: Falmouth vs. Marlborough (Doyle Field, Leominster, 11 a.m.); Division 3A — East Bridgewater vs. Nipmuc (Brockton, 11 a.m.); Division 4 — Brighton vs. Mashpee (Cawley Stadium, Lowell, 11 a.m.). On Friday night, Latin Academy squares off with Millis in a 4A semifinal at Brockton High.
NEPSAC bowls
The New England Prep School Athletic Council released its postseason bowl schedule, with 14 teams earning bids.
Among the notable matchups, senior QB Jeff Costello and Buckingham Browne & Nichols (6-2) will take on Suffield Academy (5-3) in the Ken O’Keefe Bowl at Tufts on Friday night. BB&N coach Mike Willey was a four-year starting lineman at Tufts. Also on Friday, Brooks (7-1) will face Hamden Hall (10-0) in the Mike Atkins Bowl at Brown University.
The other bowls:
■ Hugh Caldera Bowl — St. George’s (7-1) at Tabor (7-1), Friday, 6:30 p.m.
■ Wayne Sanborn Bowl — Brunswick (7-2) at Cheshire Academy (7-2), Friday, time TBA.
■ Kevin Fleming Bowl — Wilbraham & Monson (7-1) at Belmont Hill (6-2), Saturday, 1 p.m.
■ Sean Brennan Bowl — Tilton (9-0) vs. King (8-1), Saturday, site/time TBA.
■ Bill Glennon Bowl — Trinity-Pawling (7-1) at Choate (8-0), Saturday, 1:30 p.m..
Vocational tourney
The state vocational tournament will kick off Friday with two games. In the Large division, Northeast Regional (7-3) plays at Diman (7-2), and top-seeded Upper Cape (9-3) hosts Old Colony (6-4) in a Small school matchup.
On Saturday, Blackstone Valley (8-2), the top seed in the Large, hosts Shawsheen (7-3) at 1 p.m.. In the Small, Blue Hills (6-5) travels to Franklin County (5-5) at 11:30 a.m.
The championship games will be played Dec. 1 at the higher seed.
Owen Pence can be reached at owen.pence@globe.com. Lenny Rowe contributed to this story.
