HCHS, Heelan renew playoff rivalry Friday
HARLAN (Oct. 27) -- For the seventh time since 2007, Harlan Community and Sioux City Bishop Heelan will meet in the Class 3A football playoffs Friday night when the 7-2 Crusaders visit Merrill Field to take on the sixth-ranked Cyclones (8-1).
Right on cue, here come the cold temperatures, gusty winds and maybe even a few snowflakes.
The weather forecast is not pleasant for Friday’s first-round contest at 7 p.m., setting up the potential for a smash-mouth affair between two teams with big, physical linemen and two of the best running backs in the state.
HCHS senior Nick Foss is currently the 3A leader with 1,624 rushing yards and 26 rushing touchdowns (30 TDs total), averaging 8.2 yards per carry.
Heelan senior Saybien Clark, who gave his verbal commitment to FCS power North Dakota State this past summer, has totaled 1,262 yards (6.0 ypc) on the ground and reached the end zone 18 times for a Crusader team that, like Harlan, relies on a stingy defense.
Both offensive lines feature a 315-pound interior player while nearly everyone else checks in between 230 and 280, including both starting tight ends.
“They’ve got big linemen... nasty... and they play really solid D,” said HCHS coach Curt Bladt. “Every game that they’ve been in they hold the score down. You don’t get very many points.
“We’ve got some good-sized guys up front too and hopefully they’ll be able to move some people and give us at least a little bit of a running game.”
Both teams have allowed more than 20 points in a game just once: the Cyclones in a season-opening 31-21 loss to Class 4A’s Lewis Central and the Crusaders in a 35-28 loss at 4th-ranked (3A) Sergeant Bluff-Luton in Week 3.
CLASS 3A PLAYOFFS: FIRST ROUND
Bishop Heelan (7-2) at HCHS (8-1) • Friday, October 27, 7:00 p.m. • at Merrill Field
Series History
All-time series: Tied, 5-5.
at Harlan: HCHS leads, 3-2.
at Sioux City: Heelan leads, 3-2.
Playoffs: Heelan leads, 4-2.
Last 4 Meetings
2009: HCHS 21, Heelan 14 (at Harlan)*
2010: Heelan 28, HCHS 21 (at Harlan)*
2011: HCHS 35, Heelan 30 (Sioux City)*
2013: Heelan 31, HCHS 0 (Sioux City)*
* Playoffs