Cyclones start fast, hold off Carroll 34-21
HARLAN (Sept. 13) -- The Harlan Community football team is still a work in progress - striving to put together 48 consistent minutes in all three phases - but there was a lot to like about Friday night’s 34-21 home win over Carroll.
HCHS, which built a 21-0 lead in the first 21 minutes at Merrill Field, made some critical errors in allowing the Tigers to score before halftime, then traded touchdowns the rest of the way to improve to 2-1 in non-district play.
The Cyclones outgained Carroll 281-244 in total yards - a first for 2019 - moved the ball well on the ground at times and came up with key defensive plays when they had to, including two sacks and a deflected pass by senior defensive end Allen Fries on the same late-game series.
Senior quarterback Johnathan Monson threw a pair of touchdown passes and also scored twice on the ground while sophomore linebacker Will McLaughlin racked up 19 tackles on defense.
Overall, HCHS took a step forward going into this Friday’s final non-district game at Atlantic (1-2).
“Every game is tough. I don’t care what level it is - NFL, college, high school - every win is a battle,” said HCHS interim head coach Todd Bladt. “Everybody’s trying to win so you’ve got to enjoy that, but we’ve got to look in the mirror and make sure that we’re doing everything we can to be successful.
“We’ve got to get our guys doing a better job of learning how to finish at the end of halves, at the end of games and at the end of drives.”
The first 21 minutes was all Cyclones as they scored touchdowns on three out of four offensive series and forced Carroll (1-2) into three punts and an interception. HCHS started three drives inside Carroll’s 45-yard line during that time frame while the Tigers’ first four possessions all began inside their own 20.
The Tigers finally got on the board 45 seconds before halftime after covering 64 yards in 11 plays. The drive included a fake punt 11-yard pass from Ty Nissen to Slade Sibenaller and an unnecessary roughness penalty on the Cyclones just as they stuffed the Tigers on third-and-10. Later, on third-and-eight, Ryan Johnston wrestled an up-for-grabs throw away from McLaughlin for 27 yards and scored from the 1 on the next play, cutting the halftime margin to 21-7.
The Cyclones struggled to put Carroll away in the final two quarters but always maintained at least a two-score advantage. Coach Bladt talked last week about playing some physical ‘Cyclone football’ and the team certainly did that at times. HCHS ran the ball on 44 plays for 155 yards while attempting only 13 passes. The Cyclones held Carroll to 66 net rushing yards on 32 attempts.
Harlan Community 34, Carroll 21
HCHS: Johnathan Monson 2-yd. run (Matt Kloewer kick) - 1st qt., 5:19.
HCHS: Brenden Bartley 2-yd. run (Kloewer kick) - 2nd qt., 9:16.
HCHS: Cody Christensen 11-yd. pass from J. Monson (Kloewer kick) - 2nd qt., 3:21.
Carroll: Ryan Johnston 1-yd. run (Elijah Lee kick) - 2nd qt., 0:45.
HCHS: J. Monson 1-yd. run (Kloewer kick) - 3rd qt., 7:58.
Carroll: Colby Vincent 1-yd. run (Lee kick) - 3rd qt., 3:01.
HCHS: Connor Bruck 62-yd. pass from J. Monson (kick blocked) - 4th qt., 8:11.
Carroll: Luke Woosley 36-yd. pass from Vincent (Lee kick) - 4th qt., 6:20.
HCHS Individual Stat Leaders
Rushing -- Johnathan Monson 13-55, Thomas Frederick 8-43, Brenden Bartley 17-38, Alex Schechinger 3-22. Passing -- J. Monson 6-13-2, 126. Receiving -- Connor Bruck 1-62, A. Schechinger 1-20, Joey Moser 1-18. Punt returns -- Moser 1-28, Bartley 1-14.
Tackles -- Will McLaughlin 8s/11a, Michael Erlemeier 5s/3a, Joseph Fah 5s/2a, Chandler Leinen 2s/5a, Bruck 3s/3a, Allen Fries 3s/3a. Tackles for loss -- Fries 2s/1a, Leinen 1s/2a, E. Monson 1s/1a. QB Sacks -- Fries 2 solos, E. Monson 1 solo. Interceptions-return yds. -- Bruck 1-4, J. Monson 1-0.