HARLAN (Nov. 12) -- Win or lose in Thursday’s 3A semifinal vs. Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley, the 2020 football season has been an extremely fun ride for Harlan Community. One of the only things missing from it all has been the presence of Hall of Fame coach Curt Bladt on the sidelines. The Cyclone legend continues to fight a winning battle against cancer that started nearly two years ago.

 JOHNSTON (Nov. 7) -- Three swimmers from Harlan Community were part of a history-making day for the Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln girls swim team last Saturday at the regional meet in Johnston. HCHS senior Aubri Smith (leadoff leg) and sophomores Aurora Miller (third leg) and Elaina Vrchoticky (anchor), joined forces with Claire Crilly of Underwood to place fourth in the 400-yard freestyle relay.

 HARLAN -- Harlan Community seniors Emily Brouse and Julia Schechinger made their college decisions official on Monday, November 2, signing national letters of intent to play softball at the juco level starting next fall. Brouse signed with Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs while Schechinger will take her talents to Southwestern Community College in Creston.

Quarterfinal Scores • Friday, November 6

 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.

 HARLAN (Nov. 6) -- For the first time in three years and just the second time since 2011, the Harlan Community football team is headed back to the friendly confines of the UNI-Dome. Much like they have done all season, the 2nd-ranked Cyclones earned every bit of Friday night’s 21-14, Class 3A quarterfinal playoff win over No.

 HARLAN (Nov.

 FORT DODGE (Oct.

 FORT DODGE (Oct. 31) -- Near the end of a grueling five-kilometer race at Saturday’s State Cross Country Meet, IKM-Manning senior Quentin Dreyer charged into the final straightaway - about 500 meters to go - and knew what had to be done. “It was about halfway through that stretch that I realized this could quite possibly be my last cross country race ever,” Dreyer said.

 FORT DODGE (Oct.

 FORT DODGE (Oct.

2020 State Cross Country ChampionshipsLakeside Municipal Golf Course • Fort Dodge • October 30-31

 HARLAN -- The comeback kids have done it again. Going into Friday’s Class 3A third round playoff game, the Harlan Community football team was 8-0 despite falling behind in five of those eight contests. Make it six out of nine. Down 28-14 early in the third quarter - its largest deficit so far - HCHS rose to the challenge once more by scoring 28 unanswered points and holding off a talented Carlisle team, 49-42, in a pre-Halloween thriller at M

 FORT DODGE (Oct. 30) -- The Harlan Community girls cross country team, along with senior Trey Gross, will make their way back to Fort Dodge on Friday for the Class 3A state meet at Lakeside Municipal Golf Course. The HCHS girls run at 3:30 p.m., followed by Gross in the boys race at 4:00. “Everyone is healthy and very excited to get there to have their best race of the season,” said HCHS coach Doug Renkly.

 HARLAN (Oct. 30) -- Say what you will about comparative scores and overall body of work. The Carlisle football team is definitely peaking at the right time. The surging Wildcats (6-3) will travel to Merrill Field Friday night for a Class 3A third round playoff game against 2nd-ranked Harlan Community (8-0).