CYCLONE FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK
Impressive Final Numbers for Foss
Despite not scoring a touchdown in Thursday’s semifinal loss to Pella, Harlan Community senior running back Nick Foss finished as the Cyclones’ all-time co-leader with 71 career touchdowns (426 points), tying the school record set by Dylan Barrett from 2008-2010. Foss scored 38 total TDs this fall, finishing three behind Kevin Kruse’s single-season record of 41 set in 2004. Foss narrowly missed breaking another Kruse single-season record as his 2,006 rushing yards this season trailed Kruse’s senior-year mark of 2,011 by just five.
Foss finished his three-year varsity career with the lofty total of 6,081 all-purpose yards, including 3,173 as a senior.
Pella coach Jay McKinstrey said the following when asked about Foss. “He is a phenomenal football player. It takes three plays watching him on film and you’re like, ‘Oh my goodness. This kid is a great football player. Wow.’”
Sears’ Five TD Catches likely new record
The Cyclone football record books may be adding a new category after junior Brett Sears caught five touchdown passes against Pella Thursday. Previously, no school record was kept for most touchdown receptions in a game. HCHS coach Curt Bladt said he cannot recall anyone catching five TDs during his 40 years at the helm. Sears’ touchdown receptions from Deren Schmitz covered 7, 8, 4, 17 and 7 yards, respectively.
Cyclones say goodbye to 19 seniors
HCHS will lose 19 senior football players, including 11 who started at least part-time this season, from a team that finished 10-2 and bounced back from last year’s disappointing 4-5 campaign to win a district title and advance to the 3A semifinals.
“They’ve just been great to work with. The kids have been fantastic,” Coach Bladt said of the senior class. “All the seniors are great kids - all the way down. They work pretty darn hard. They are there every day and they put their blue collar on and away we go.”
Bladt added that several juniors played key roles in this year’s success as well and he hopes to see them take over leadership of the program right away as the Cyclones aim for another productive off-season. “Hopefully they’ll dedicate themselves in the off-season and get a little bit better and we’ve got some young kids coming up that are going to play for us, so things will be OK,” he said. “We’ll try to put 11 on the field at all times next fall.”
Iowa High School Football Playoffs • Semifinal Scores • at UNI-Dome
8-PLAYER - THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9
Remsen St. Mary’s 51, Fremont-Mills 6 .......... Don Bosco 80, Midland, Wyoming 12
CLASS 3A - THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9
Pella 41, Harlan Community 39 .......... Cedar Rapids Xavier 35, Solon 7
CLASS A - FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10
West Sioux 55, CB St. Albert 21 .......... Hudson 41, Saint Ansgar 17
CLASS 4A - FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10
Dowling Catholic 44, Ankeny Centennial 7 .......... Iowa City West 23, Bettendorf 0
CLASS 1A - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11
Van Meter 35, West Lyon 21 .......... Iowa City Regina 37, Pella Christian 35
CLASS 2A - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11
Williamsburg 28, Union 14 .......... Waukon 36, Boyden-Hull/RV 19
Iowa High School Football Playoffs • Championship Game Pairings • at UNI-Dome
8-PLAYER - THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16
Remsen St. Mary’s (11-0) vs. Don Bosco, Gilbertville (12-0), 10:00 a.m.
CLASS A - THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16
West Sioux, Hawarden (12-0) vs. Hudson (12-0), 1:30 p.m.
CLASS 3A - THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16
Pella (11-1) vs. Cedar Rapids Xavier (12-0), 7:00 p.m.
CLASS 1A - FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17
Van Meter (12-0) vs. Iowa City Regina (10-2), 11:00 a.m.
CLASS 2A - FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17
Waukon (11-1) vs. Williamsburg (10-2), 2:00 p.m.
CLASS 4A - FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17
Dowling Catholic, WDM (11-1) vs. Iowa City West (12-0), 7:00 p.m.