HCHS faces surging Nighthawks team in 3A semis

Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley has won seven straight games since starting 0-2

 CEDAR FALLS (Nov. 12) -- Harlan Community and Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley have met three previous times in the football playoffs, but never this far down the road.
 That will change Thursday when the second-ranked and top-seeded Cyclones (10-0) face the surging Nighthawks (8-2) in a Class 3A semifinal at the UNI-Dome. Kickoff is set for 4:00 p.m.
 HCHS was voted the top 3A seed following an online coaches meeting Thursday, then advanced to the dome with a 21-14 quarterfinal win over Lewis Central. Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley took down previously unbeaten Webster City 23-14 on Friday for its seventh straight victory.
 “They’re definitely playing their best football right now,” said HCHS head coach Todd Bladt of the Nighthawks. “They’re really starting to get after it. Their O-line is clicking pretty well, their D-line is playing fast. In the skill department they’ve got some players. They’ve got some speed, they’ve got some big size, they’ve got some tough hard-nosed players in there.”
 Thursday’s winner will advance to the 3A title game on November 19 and face the winner of a 7:30 semifinal between Cedar Rapids Xavier (10-0) and North Scott (7-1).
 The Cyclones are trying to make their first championship game appearance since 2009 - when they won it all - and build on the program’s state-best 12 state titles and eight runner-up finishes.
 The Nighthawks, who are back in 3A for the first time in a while this fall, have built a nice tradition for themselves as well. B-H/RV is in the playoffs for the 16th time since 2000. It earned the Class 2A title in 2016 and finished as 2-A runner-up in 2009 and 2018.
 The Nighthawks missed the playoffs last year but have made a quick turnaround in 2020 despite moving up a class.
 Coach Cory Brandt’s team was 1-2 following losses to West Lyon (28-0) and Sergeant Bluff-Luton (42-35) in early September. They’ve rattled off seven consecutive wins since then and have played their best football in the playoffs. After receiving a first round bye, B-H/RV dominated rematch games vs. Storm Lake (42-0) and at Spencer (42-7) before knocking off the sixth-ranked Lynx Friday night.
 The Nighthawks forced five Webster City turnovers and now have 31 takeaways on the year. They have returned two of their 11 interceptions for scores while recovering 20 fumbles.

Series History
 Harlan Community has defeated Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley three times in previous playoff meetings. The Cyclones won a first round game at B-H-/RV 25-0 in 2000 and defeated the Nighthawks twice in Harlan, winning a 2010 second round game 38-7 and a 2011 quarterfinal 28-7.

 
 

 

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