Cyclones host Warriors in another Merrill showdown

 HARLAN (Sept. 10) -- For the second time in three weeks, Merrill Field is the host site for a tantalizing matchup of highly-ranked football teams.
 Harlan Community, voted No. 1 in the first Associated Press Class 3A poll of the season, will take on No. 4 Sergeant Bluff-Luton Friday night with kickoff set for 7:00 p.m.
 Both squads stand 2-0 in non-district play and each owns a seven-point win over an opponent ranked second (at the time) by Radio Iowa. HCHS opened the season with a come-from-behind 36-29 home win over Lewis Central (Class 4A) and SB-L held off Central Lyon/George-Little Rock (2A) on the road last Friday, 28-21.
 The all-time series is tied at 2-2, although the Warriors have won the most recent matchups by scores of 34-32 in 2018 and 47-27 in 2019.
 Both teams bring plenty of speed to the table and boast playmakers on both sides of the ball.
 “It’s going to be a big game. It’s not the end-all, be-all... but it gets us kind of prepped and ready for that last (non-district) game," said HCHS head coach Todd Bladt.
 “If our D-line can get some heat on their quarterback and contain the quarterback, that’s going to be a big deal for our defense. Offensively, if we can move some guys once in a while and also protect the quarterback and give him time to throw, those are going to be two big factors in the ball game."
 Two of the top four passers in 3A will take the field in HCHS junior Teagon Kasperbauer and SB-L junior Tyler Smith.
 Kasperbauer, a proverbial pocket passer, led 3A last year with 2,553 passing yards. Through two games in 2021, he’s thrown for 480 yards and seven touchdowns in just six quarters on the field.
 Smith is more of a dual-threat QB who completed 67 percent of his passes last fall for 1,880 yards, 22 touchdowns and just four interceptions while rushing for 303 yards and six TDs. Smith was on fire last week against Central Lyon, finishing 19-of-23 for 290 yards and one touchdown through the air and also scoring on a short run. He’s passed for 411 yards and rushed for 135 more through two games.

Full story in Sept. 10 Harlan News-Advertiser.