ALMOST EPIC

Cyclones nearly erase 35-0 Pella lead in 3A semifinal at UNI-Dome; HCHS falls 41-39 despite five Schmitz-to-Sears TD passes

 CEDAR FALLS (Nov. 9) -- In a matter of less than 26 football minutes Thursday night, Harlan Community flipped the script from potentially the most lopsided playoff loss in school history to being on the verge of an all-time epic comeback.
 And even though their spirited rally fell two points short against Pella, the Cyclones’ determined second-half fight basically served as a microcosm for what this year’s team was all about.
 Trailing 35-0 with 2:41 left in the second quarter, HCHS gained a flicker of hope by scoring just before halftime, then added five second-half touchdowns to pull within 41-39 with 59 seconds to go.
 The Cyclones’ two-point conversion failed, however, and Pella recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock to preserve a thrilling two-point victory in a three-hour Class 3A semifinal playoff game at the UNI-Dome.
 The fifth-ranked Dutch - three-time defending state champions - improved to 11-1 and kept their dreams of a four-peat alive going into this Thursday’s 3A title game against No. 3 Cedar Rapids Xavier (12-0), which routed top-ranked Solon 35-7 on the opposite half of the 3A bracket.
 The sixth-ranked Cyclones, meanwhile, finished 10-2 in a remarkable turnaround season on the heels of last year’s 4-5 campaign.
 “It’s a tough loss, obviously it (stinks),” said HCHS senior quarterback Deren Schmitz, who passed for 358 yards (303 after halftime) and five scores Thursday. “I don’t have a lot for words, but I wouldn’t have wanted to (do this) with any other team.”
 Junior wide receiver Brett Sears, who entered the day with four total receptions on the season (he missed four games due to injury and played quarterback in two others), hauled in all five Schmitz touchdown passes covering 7, 8, 4, 17 and 7 yards. Two of the scoring plays occurred on fourth-and-long snaps and another came on third down.
 “My option was working on this night. It could have been anyone,” Sears said. “Deren was putting balls where they needed to be and I was just going up and making the plays.”
 Sears added that it was a fun experience taking part in the Cyclones’ first game at the UNI-Dome since 2011.
 “Obviously we’d rather be playing next Thursday, but this is the place you want to end it,” he said. “It’s been a fun ride and I wouldn’t want to do it with anyone else. This team is great.”

Pella 41, Harlan Community 39

               1    2    3    4      F
Pella    14    21    0    6 --- 41
HCHS    0    7    13    19 --- 39
    Pella: Lucas Warner 34-yd. pass from Ryan Gustafson (Kaden Miedema kick) - 1st qt., 5:40.
 Pella: Sam Warner 9-yd. run (Miedema kick) - 1st qt., 1:24.
 Pella: S. Warner 34-yd. INT return (kick failed) - 2nd qt., 11:02.
 Pella: Reece Schnell 51-yd. run (S. Warner pass from Curtis Ware) - 2nd qt., 9:01.
 Pella: L. Warner 16-yd. pass from Gustafson (Miedema kick) - 2nd qt., 2:41.
 HCHS: Brett Sears 7-yd. pass from Deren Schmitz (Kyle Knudson kick) - 2nd qt., 0:27.
 HCHS: Sears 8-yd. pass from Schmitz (Knudson kick) - 3rd qt., 6:56.
 HCHS: Sears 4-yd. pass from Schmitz (kick blocked) - 3rd qt., 4:03.
 HCHS: Jon Owens 26-yd. blocked punt return (pass failed) - 4th qt., 7:11.
 Pella: Avery Van Zee 53-yd. pass from Gustafson (pass failed) - 4th qt., 6:59.
 HCHS: Sears 17-yd. pass from Schmitz (Knudson kick) - 4th qt., 3:24.
 HCHS: Sears 7-yd. pass from Schmitz (pass failed) - 4th qt., 0:59.

Pella                  HCHS
12    First Downs    21
34-118    Rush att.-Yards    32-111
180    Passing Yards    358
298    Total Yards    469
10-17-0    Comp.-Att.-Int.    25-50-2
0-0    Fumbles-lost    3-1
7-43.1    Punts-avg.    6-35.8
5-40    Penalties-yards    8-45

HCHS Individual Statistics
    Rushing -- Nick Foss 21-77, Deren Schmitz 7-45, Caleb Bieker 2-4, Johnathan Monson 2-(-15).
    Passing -- Schmitz 25-49-2, 358; Foss 0-1-0, 0.
    Receiving -- Foss 6-183, Brett Sears 7-80, Monson 4-43, Kevin Campbell 3-31, Derec Weyer 2-9, Eli Boldan 1-7, Alex Schechinger 2-5.
    Punt returns -- Jared Moser 2-16, Foss 1-14.
    Kickoff returns -- Foss 4-89, Moser 1-11.
    Punting -- Schmitz 6-215 (35.8).
    Kickoffs -- Kyle Knudson 7-231 (33.0).
    Tackles -- Foss 7 (3s/4a), Jake McLaughlin 7 (3s/4a), Jacob Bartley 6 (5s/1a), Wyatt Schaben 6 (3s/3a), Moser 4 (4s), Bieker 4 (1s/3a), Jon Owens 3 (2s/1a), Monson 3 (2s/1a), Tanner Fink 2 (2s), Joey Arkfeld 2 (2s), Schmitz 1 (1s), Hunter Manz 1 (1s), Weyer 1 (1s), Sears 1 (1s), Levi Culp 1 (1a), Thomas Fah 1 (1a), Caleb Brouse 1 (1a).
    Tackles for loss -- McLaughlin 3, Foss 2, Owens 1, Bieker 1, Weyer 1.
 QB Sacks -- McLaughlin 2, Weyer 1, Bieker 1.
 Blocked punt -- Schaben.
 Blocked punt return -- Owens 1-26 (TD).
Pella Individual Stat Leaders
    Rushing -- Reece Schnell 9-84, Avery Van Zee 8-44, Sam Warner 6-29.
 Passing -- Ryan Gustafson 10-17-0, 180.
 Receiving -- Van Zee 4-86, Lucas Warner 3-57, Curtis Ware 2-20.

 
 

 

Harlan Newspapers

1114 7th Street
P.O. Box 721
Harlan, IA 51537-0721

(800) 909-6397
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