HCHS gridders dominate Panthers, 48-0
HARLAN (Oct. 12) -- One week after losing by five touchdowns at Lewis Central, the Harlan Community football team bounced back in a big way Friday night at Merrill Field.
Even with several key players out of the lineup, the Cyclones put together their most dominant performance of the season and notched their first shutout with a 48-0 win over Creston/Orient-Macksburg.
Coupled with Winterset’s 42-21 loss to ADM, HCHS is now in sole possession of second place in Class 3A, District 9 with a record of 3-1 (6-2 overall). The Cyclones will wrap up regular-season play Friday at Winterset (2-2, 3-5) needing a win to strengthen their already solid wildcard playoff hopes.
HCHS controlled Creston (1-3, 2-6) from the start, leading 27-0 after one quarter and 41-0 at the break, resulting in a second-half running clock. The Cyclones outgained the Panthers 390-132 in total offense, produced four takeaways - highlighted by Jon Owens’ 60-yard pick-six - and were not flagged for a single penalty.
And they did it with players like Alex Schechinger, Johnathan Monson, Oscar Olmos and Jake McLaughlin sidelined by various injuries for all, or most, of the game.
Making his first start on offense, sophomore tailback Brenden Bartley opened the scoring with a 37-yard run barely two minutes into the game. He later scored from nine yards out and finished with 115 yards on 12 carries.
Senior fullback Caleb Bieker also had a good game in switching from left guard back to his old position. He rushed the ball nine times for 60 yards and one TD.
The Cyclones ran the ball 36 times for 215 yards overall, including 20 for 171 in the first half - an average of 8.6 yards a pop. Throw in some big passing plays and they gained 335 yards by halftime.
HCHS 48, Creston/O-M 0
HCHS: Brenden Bartley 37-yd. run (kick failed) - 1st qt., 9:48.
HCHS: Caleb Bieker 1-yd. run (Kyle Knudson kick) - 1st qt., 5:35.
HCHS: Bartley 9-yd. run (Knudson kick) - 1st qt., 2:09.
HCHS: Jon Owens 60-yd. INT return (Knudson kick) - 1st qt., 0:15.
HCHS: Brett Sears 58-yd. pass from Preston Mulligan (Knudson kick) - 2nd qt., 9:10.
HCHS: Eli Boldan 37-yd. pass from Mulligan (Knudson kick) - 2nd qt., 1:39.
HCHS: Luke Schaben 16-yd. run (Knudson kick) - 3rd qt., 5:49.
HCHS Individual Stat Leaders
Rushing -- Brenden Bartley 12-115, Caleb Bieker 9-60, Luke Schaben 6-44. Passing -- Preston Mulligan 6-9-0, 171. Receiving -- Brett Sears 2-103, Eli Boldan 3-61.
Tackles -- Jacob Bruck 6 (3s/3a), Will McLaughlin 6 (3s/3a), Joey Arkfeld 5 (2s/3a). QB Sack -- Fries 1 solo. Interceptions-return yds. -- Owens 1-60 (TD), Michael Erlemeier 1-14, Cheek 1-0, W. McLaughlin 1-0.