Strong third quarter lifts HCHS past Carroll 35-6

 CARROLL (Sept. 7) -- Following a sluggish first half on offense, Harlan Community put together a dominant third quarter on both sides of the football Friday night, scoring three touchdowns in a six-minute span to pull away from Carroll 35-6.
 The host Tigers took a 6-0 lead on the first play of the second quarter but were held without a first down for the next six possessions as the Cyclone defense finished with three interceptions and two fourth-down stops to set up five offensive drives from the 50-yard line or closer.
 HCHS (2-1 overall) also extended its incredible streak of not allowing any third-quarter points to 17 games dating back to Week 7 of the 2016 season.
 Offensively, junior tailback Alex Schechinger scored three touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving) and racked up 188 total yards while senior quarterback Preston Mulligan threw two TD passes and also scored on an eight-yard run.
 All in all, it was a nice bounce-back win for the Cyclones, who blew a 20-point lead a week earlier in a 34-32 loss to Sergeant Bluff-Luton. HCHS will close out its non-district schedule this Friday with a home game against Atlantic (2-1) at 7:00 p.m.
 “Once (Carroll) scored that touchdown, defensively we kind of stiffened up a little bit,” said Harlan coach Curt Bladt. “It took the offense a little time to get going but when they got going and the defense was clicking, putting the two of them together resulted in some nice gains and some points on the board.”
 HCHS netted 155 of its 188 rushing yards in the second half and outgained Carroll overall, 361-248.

Harlan Community 35, Carroll 6
Carroll: Isaiah Badding 34-yd. pass from Colby Vincent (PAT failed) - 2nd qt., 11:54.
HCHS: Alex Schechinger 48-yd. pass from Preston Mulligan (Kyle Knudson kick) - 2nd qt., 6:50.
HCHS: A. Schechinger 5-yd. run (Knudson kick) - 2nd qt., 2:58.
HCHS: Mulligan 8-yd. run (Knudson kick) - 3rd qt., 7:13.
HCHS: A. Schechinger 15-yd. run (Knudson kick) - 3rd qt., 4:16.
HCHS: Johnathan Monson 40-yd. pass from Mulligan (Knudson kick) - 3rd qt., 1:11.

HCHS Individual Stat Leaders
    Rushing -- Alex Schechinger 24-134, Brenden Bartley 3-26.
    Passing -- Preston Mulligan 10-22-0, 162; Lasher 1-1-0, 11.
    Receiving -- Johnathan Monson 5-71, A. Schechinger 2-54.
    Tackles -- Jake McLaughlin 10 (1s/9a), Jon Owens 9 (6s/3a), Derec Weyer 7 (1s/6a), Wyatt Schaben 6 (6s), Allen Fries 6 (3s/3a).
    Tackles for loss -- Owens 3 (2s/1a), Fries 3 (2s/1a), McLaughlin 3 (1s/2a).
 QB Sacks (3) -- Brody Frederick 1, Fries 0.5, Weyer 0.5, McLaughlin 0.5, Brady Wagner 0.5.
 Interceptions -- Schaben 1 (10-yd. return), Fah 1, Owens 1.
Carroll Individual Stat Leaders
    Rushing -- Ryan Johnston 26-34.
 Passing -- Colby Vincent 15-22-3, 209.
 Receiving -- Isaiah Badding 5-92, Jace Pettitt 3-45, Jang Jioklow 3-40.