CYCLONES CLINCH UNI-DOME RETURN
HARLAN -- Unfinished business.
The Harlan Community football team is headed back to the UNI-Dome needing two more wins to garner elusive state title number 13.
The top-ranked (AP) Cyclones punched their ticket back to Cedar Falls with a 38-0 Class 3A playoff quarterfinal win over No. 8 Nevada Friday night at Merrill Field.
On a rare off night by the offense - at least for a half - the Cyclones’ suffocating defense recorded its fourth consecutive shutout and held the Cubs below 100 total yards until the game’s final series.
Meanwhile, five different HCHS players scored a touchdown to go along with Stephen Leinen’s booming 47-yard field goal.
The Cyclones (11-0) will now have more than a week to prepare for their 3A semifinal against No. 4 Humboldt (11-0) on Saturday, Nov. 13, at 7:00 p.m.
Based on the state’s final RPI rankings through Week 9, the Wildcats are seeded second for the semifinals and Harlan is the third seed. The winner will take on No. 1 seed Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley or No. 4 Solon - both 11-0 - in the 3A championship game November 19.
HCHS has its eyes on the prize after losing to North Scott 30-6 in last year’s state title game.
“We’re going home to the dome, baby,” said HCHS senior defensive end Will McLaughlin, adding that the Cyclones have been talking about their “unfinished business” since 7-on-7 drills in June.
“That’s our motto. That’s how we’re playing this year. Business is unfinished and we’re going to finish it.”
Senior wide receiver Joey Moser called it a “surreal” feeling to be going back to the UNI-Dome. “That was the goal all year and I think we’re all happy to be back where we are,” he said.
HCHS head coach Todd Bladt said that it’s a big deal for this year’s Cyclone squad to make it back to the dome with an unblemished record, overcoming sky-high expectations and avoiding upsets through 11 weeks.
“It’s an awesome place to play,” he said. “I got to play there, I’ve coached there as an assistant and then last year as the head coach. It’s a neat environment, it’s fun, it’s great for the kids and it’s what they wanted to do. Not everybody gets to meet an expectation. This is a special deal and it’s a special team, and we’re not just going down there to enjoy the ride. We want to go and play our best football."
The Cyclones have now outscored their last four opponents 201-0, including 83-0 in two playoff games.
The Cubs, who finished 9-2, tallied only seven first downs and 113 yards on the night, averaging two yards per rushing attempt (33-for-66) and completing 5-of-15 passes for 47 yards.
Full story in Nov. 9 Harlan Tribune
Harlan Community 38, Nevada 0
HCHS: Aidan Hall 8-yd. run (Stephen Leinen kick) - 1st qt., 5:25.
HCHS: Connor Frame 21-yd. pass from Teagon Kasperbauer (Leinen kick) - 2nd qt., 3:12.
HCHS: Joey Moser 42-yd. pass from Kasperbauer (Leinen kick) - 3rd qt., 6:00.
HCHS: Jacob Birch 14-yd. pass from Kasperbauer (Leinen kick) - 3rd qt., 4:34.
HCHS: Leinen 47-yd. FG - 4th qt., 11:41.
HCHS: Kasperbauer 2-yd. run (Leinen kick) - 4th qt., 3:09.
Nevada HCHS
7 First Downs 16
33-66 Rush att.-Yards 35-121
47 Passing Yards 198
113 Total Yards 319
5-15-0 Comp.-Att.-Int. 12-22-0
1-1 Fumbles-lost 3-1
7-39.1 Punts-avg. 3-39.3
3-24 Penalties-yards 4-40
Harlan Community Individual Stat Leaders
Rushing -- William Kenkel 19-55, Aidan Hall 12-51. Passing -- Teagon Kasperbauer 12-22-0, 198. Receiving -- Joey Moser 3-80, Hall 3-58, Connor Frame 3-40, Jacob Birch 3-20.
Punting -- Stephen Leinen 3-118 (39.3). Kickoffs -- Leinen 7-363 (51.9), 5 TB. Field goal -- Leinen 1-1 (47).
Tackles -- Jameson Bieker 2s/6a, Lucas Stanley 2s/4a, Will McLaughlin 0s/6a, Brad Curren 2s/3a, Garrett Assmann 2s/3a, Matthew Sorfonden 2s/3a, Alex Monson 0s/5a, Hall 3s/1a, Bret Van Baale 2s/1a, Zane Bendorf 0s/3a, Nick Blum 1s/1a.
Tackles for loss -- Bieker 1s/3a, Van Baale 1s/0a, Franz Reisz 1s/0a, Sorfonden 0s/1a, McLaughlin 0s/1a, Frame 0s/1a, Curren 0s/1a, Stanley 0s/1a. QB Sacks -- Bieker 1s/2a, Sorfonden 0s/1a, McLaughlin 0s/1a.
Fumble recovery -- Sorfonden.