Cyclones steamroll another District 6 opponent
ATLANTIC (Oct. 1) -- Through two weeks, the Harlan Community football team is treating Class 3A, District 6 like a video game in which the Cyclones have all the cheat codes.
Seven days after blowing out Saydel 64-0, HCHS traveled to the Trojan Bowl Friday night and made quick work of Atlantic, 55-7, in a game that featured a running clock for the last 35 minutes-plus.
The top-ranked Cyclones (6-0, 2-0) led 49-0 at halftime, netting 304 yards on just 15 plays, or 20.3 yards per snap. At one point, they had run six plays from scrimmage and were up 35-0.
Atlantic (1-5, 0-2), meanwhile, found little room to maneuver against the Cyclones’ swarming defense, gaining 35 first-half yards on 27 plays. The Trojans went three-and-out on six of eight first-half possessions and one of their seven punts was returned 53 yards for a touchdown by HCHS senior Joey Moser.
Both teams scored on a long TD pass in the fourth quarter as the Cyclones played their reserves the entire second half. The final yardage count ended up 437 to 148.
“We’ve got a lot of weapons out there and they can go out and make plays,” said HCHS head coach Todd Bladt. “It doesn’t matter which guy you’re talking about on offense, whether it’s Joey or Aidan (Hall), Connor (Frame), (Jacob) Birch... we’ve got a lot of different things that we can go to and that’s what makes us dangerous."
Bladt also praised the defense for “flying around” and making plays, and he was glad to see all-state linebacker Joseph Fah back in the mix following a two-game absence due to injury.
The Cyclones have held their first two district opponents to a combined 59 total yards and one yard per rush during the first half.
Harlan's third district game will be this Friday night (7:00 p.m.) at ADM of Adel (5-1, 2-0). The Tigers blew out Creston 42-0 in Week 6 and have scored at least 36 points in every game this year. Their only loss was a 60-36 setback at Winterset on September 17.
Full story in Oct. 5 Harlan Tribune
Harlan Community 55, Atlantic 7
HCHS: Aidan Hall 57-yd. pass from Teagon Kasperbauer (Stephen Leinen kick) - 1st qt., 8:39.
HCHS: Connor Frame 23-yd. pass from Kasperbauer (Leinen kick) - 1st qt., 6:32.
HCHS: Hall 35-yd. run (Leinen kick) - 1st qt., 3:47.
HCHS: Joey Moser 53-yd. punt return (Leinen kick) - 1st qt., 1:57.
HCHS: Frame 52-yd. pass from Kasperbauer (Leinen kick) - 2nd qt., 11:39.
HCHS: Hall 15-yd. run (Leinen kick) - 2nd qt., 6:56.
HCHS: William Kenkel 4-yd. run (Leinen kick) - 2nd qt., 1:37.
HCHS: Cade Sears 66-yd. pass from Will Arkfeld (kick blocked) - 4th qt., 11:07.
Atlantic: Gannon O’Hara 73-yd. pass from Caden Andersen (Lane Nelson kick) - 4th qt., 9:17.
Harlan Community Individual Stat Leaders:
Rushing -- Aidan Hall 3-80, Luke Musich 9-48, William Kenkel 5-21. Passing -- Teagon Kasperbauer 5-5-0, 179; Will Arkfeld 4-8-0, 106. Receiving -- Cade Sears 3-84, Connor Frame 2-75, Hall 2-74, Jacob Birch 1-30, Noah Schmitz 1-22.
Punt returns -- Joey Moser 3-89, Frame 1-23. Kickoff returns -- N. Schmitz 2-72.
Kickoffs -- Leinen 8-480 (60.0), 8 touchbacks; Finn Skrybeck 1-48.
Tackles -- Zane Bendorf 3s/3a, Lucas Stanley 3s/2a, Franz Reisz 2s/3a, Joseph Fah 1s/4a, Ben Alberti 3s/1a, Jameson Bieker 0s/4a, Kemper Gorden 0s/4a, Matthew Sorfonden 1s/2a, Bret Van Baale 0s/3a, Alex Monson 0s/3a, Mason Anderson 2s/0a.
Tackles for loss -- Bendorf 2s/0a, Reisz 1s/0a, Schwery 1s/0a, S. Bladt 1s/0a. QB Sack -- Reisz 1s/0a. Fumble recovery -- Gorden.