Cyclones battle burly Cubs for trip to the Dome

Class 3A Football Quarterfinal: Nevada (9-1) at Harlan Community (10-0)

 HARLAN (Nov. 5) -- It’s speed vs. size for a ticket to the UNI-Dome.
 Top-ranked Harlan Community will put its unblemished 10-0 record on the line Friday night, hosting No. 8 Nevada (9-1) in a Class 3A quarterfinal playoff game at 7:00 p.m. The winner advances to the state semifinals on Saturday, Nov. 13, in Cedar Falls.
 While HCHS is arguably one of the state’s fastest teams from sideline to sideline, the upstart Cubs must certainly be considered one of the biggest teams - at least in 3A - when it comes to average weight.
 On offense, Nevada features a 330-pound left tackle in Colten Leslie, three other linemen between 240 and 255, a 6-foot-7, 240-pound tight end, and a 195-pound senior quarterback in James Edwards who has rushed and passed for more than 1,000 yards each.
 The Cubs also boast a 1,000-yard running back in sophomore Cason Stevenson, a dangerous receiver in Caeden DaSilva and an aggressive defense that has 24 takeaways on the season.
 “They’ve got some big kahunas out there,” said HCHS head coach Todd Bladt. “Their quarterback is real talented, they’ve got a super speedy wideout and their tailback is pretty effective, so they do meet the eye test and we’re going go have to play disciplined football against them - there’s no doubt about that.
 “This one’s to go to the big house, and any time you’ve got that many chips on the table everybody is going to put their neck out there and play 100 percent. I think we’re going to see 100 percent their ‘A’ game and that’s what we’re going to try to put on the field too.”
 The Cyclones and Cubs have a pair of common opponents this year. HCHS defeated ADM 58-30 in Week 7 and shut out Ballard 45-0 in last week’s playoff opener. Nevada beat Ballard 34-13 in Week 6 and survived a back-and-forth 34-26 playoff game with ADM.
 Nevada’s football program has been on the upswing in recent years and last week’s victory marked the Cubs’ second playoff win all-time in five appearances. The Cyclones, meanwhile, have 97 playoff wins (and 12 state titles) in 40 trips to the postseason.
 Nevada coach Andrew Kleeman knows his team will have to find a new level to beat HCHS at Merrill Field in the month of November.
 “Harlan has explosive playmakers and is fundamentally sound at every position,” he said. “We know this game will be a challenge and we are excited for the opportunity to compete against the best."

Full story in Nov. 5 Harlan News-Advertiser

Cyclones vs. Cubs: By The Numbers

Harlan Community (10-0)
vs. Lewis Central    Won 36-29
at Grinnell    Won 56-7
vs. Sergeant Bluff-Luton    Won 55-26
at Glenwood    Won 41-13
vs. Saydel    Won 64-0
at Atlantic    Won 55-7
at ADM, Adel    Won 58-30
vs. Creston    Won 42-0
at Knoxville    Won 76-0
PLAYOFFS
vs. Ballard    Won 45-0

HCHS Individual Stat Leaders
 Passing: Teagon Kasperbauer 128/191 (67.0%), 2498, 37 TDs, 7 INTs.
 Rushing: Aidan Hall 61-654 (10.7), 15 TDs; William Kenkel 59-274 (4.6), 6 TDs; Noah Schmitz 29-194 (6.7), 6 TDs; Luke Musich 32-185 (5.8), 2 TDs.
 Receiving: Connor Frame 39-878 (22.5), 19 TDs; Joey Moser 27-568 (21.0), 8 TDs; Hall 22-520 (23.6), 6 TDs; Jacob Birch 32-477 (14.9), 4 TDs.
 Tackles: Jameson Bieker 44.5 (23s), Lucas Stanley 43.5 (19s), Garrett Assmann 30.0 (14s), Alex Monson 28.0 (14s), Matthew Sorfonden 27.0 (17s), Zane Bendorf 26.5 (12s).
 Tackles for loss: Bieker 7.5, Stanley 7.0, Monson 7.0, Assmann 6.5, Bendorf 5.0.
 QB Sacks: Bieker 4.5, Assmann 2.0.
 Fumble recoveries: Five with 1.
 INTs-return yards -- Frame 2-44, Ashton Lyon 2-28, Brad Curren 1-28 (TD), three more with 1.
 Kickoff Returns: Moser 12-235 (19.6), N. Schmitz 2-72 (36.0), Frame 1-49 (TD).
 Punt Returns: Moser 17-246 (14.5), 2 TDs; Frame 11-221 (20.1), 1 TD; Musich 4-71 (17.8).
 Kickoffs: Stephen Leinen 82-4762 (58.1), 53 touchbacks.
 PATs: Leinen 65/69. FGs: Leinen 4/5 (42).
 Punts: Leinen 8-282 (35.3).

Nevada (9-1)
vs. Boone    Won 48-7
at West Marshall    Won 35-12
vs. Roland-Story    Won 64-7
at Hampton-Dumont-CAL    Won 38-14
vs. Gilbert    Won 56-14
at Ballard    Won 34-13
vs. Algona    Won 28-14
at Humboldt    Lost 19-15
vs. North Polk    Won 35-0
PLAYOFFS
vs. ADM, Adel    Won 34-26

Nevada Individual Stat Leaders
 Passing: James Edwards 63/105 (60.0%), 1052, 12 TDs, 6 INTs.
 Rushing: Edwards 193-1149 (6.0), 21 TDs; Cason Stevenson 109-1118 (10.3), 14 TDs.
 Receiving: Caeden DaSilva 32-690 (21.6), 8 TDs; Drew Robinson 9-132 (14.7), 1 TD; Carson Rhodes 10-116 (11.6), 3 TDs, Colin Memmer 9-85 (9.4).
 Tackles: Caleb Kooiker 102.0 (62s), Cael Franzen 98.5 (44s), Ty Dittmer 48.5 (30s), Seth Brown 43.5 (31s), Karter Beving 41.5 (28s), Noah Mills 36.5 (11s), Gavin Melohn 34.5 (21s).
 Tackles for loss: Melohn 11.0, Connor Schnettgoecke 10.0, Dittmer 8.5, Franzen 6.5.
 QB Sacks: Melohn 6.0, Schnettgoecke 6.0, Dittmer 2.5.
 Fumble recoveries: Melohn 2-34 (1 TD), Kooiker 2, Dittmer 2, Schnettgoecke 2, Brown 1-7 (TD), three more with 1.
 INTs-return yards: Brown 6-106, Dittmer 2, DaSilva 1-47, three more with 1.
 Kickoff Returns: Robinson 9-241 (26.8), DaSilva 7-231 (33.0), 1 TD.
 Punt Returns: Robinson 9-146 (16.2), 1 TD; DaSilva 6-99 (16.5), 1 TD.
 Kickoffs: Aidan Freeman 66-3217 (48.7), 1 TB.
 PATs: Freeman 47/51. FG: Freeman 1/1 (22).
 Punts: Rhodes 21-734 (35.0).

 
 

 

Harlan Newspapers

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

(800) 909-6397
news2@harlanonline.com

Comment Here