HCHS expects tougher test from No. 9 Tigers

 ADEL (Oct. 8) -- Friday night’s matchup between Harlan Community and Adel-DeSoto-Minburn is most likely the de facto championship game in Class 3A, District 6.
 The top-ranked Cyclones enter the contest at 6-0 overall and 2-0 in district play following one-sided wins over Saydel (64-0) and Atlantic (55-7) in which they scored 99 first-half points.
 The level of competition goes up a few notches this week against ninth-ranked ADM (5-1, 2-0). The Tigers possess speed, a potent offense and an improving defense that all added up to a 42-0 shutout of Creston last weekend.
 ADM stormed out to a 28-0 lead in the first quarter and outgained the Panthers 455-146, rushing for 228 yards and passing for 227. The defense picked off three interceptions, giving the Tigers seven on the season to go along with five fumble recoveries and 10.5 sacks.
 “They’re starting to find their gel,” said HCHS head coach Todd Bladt of ADM. “But we’re playing pretty good football right now too and executing, so it will be all about execution on Friday and who’s going to make the least amount of mistakes.”
 Offensively, the Cyclones have handled their first two district foes like a hot knife through butter, scoring on their first three plays from scrimmage vs. Saydel and four of the first six at Atlantic. The Cyclone defense has dominated as well and most of the starters have finished their night’s work before halftime.
 ADM’s offense, which averages 38 points a game, is led by the one-two punch of senior quarterback Matt Dufoe (6-foot-4, 200 pounds) and sophomore running back Brevin Doll (6-0, 180).
 Dufoe is the power back, having already rushed for 731 yards and 10 touchdowns (6.1 ypc) while passing for 810 yards and nine scores. Doll, the 3A state champion in the 200-meter dash as a freshman, brings the wheels, averaging 8.6 yards per rush.
 *** STAT ALERT: Through two district games - in the first half alone - HCHS has snapped the ball just 29 times and gained 671 yards - that’s 23.1 yards per play. Seven of those 29 plays (almost one in four) have gone for at least 40 yards.

Full story in October 8 Harlan News-Advertiser