DOWN BUT NEVER OUT

Continuing comeback trend from 2020, Cyclones storm from behind to beat Lewis Central 36-29; Harlan Community scores final 22 points of season opener; Kasperbauer throws four TD passes
 “Lewis Central is going to get a lot better, we’re going to get a lot better. That right there was iron sharpening iron." -- HCHS head coach Todd Bladt

 HARLAN (Aug. 27) -- It remains to be seen how a season of high hopes and unfinished business will end for the Harlan Community football team later this fall.
 But this much is certain: the start was unforgettable.
 Harlan Community and Lewis Central renewed their rivalry at Merrill Field Friday night and waged a Week 1 battle for the ages.
 HCHS trailed 14-0 after the first quarter, 22-7 at halftime and 29-14 with 11:18 left in the game. But if there’s one thing that last season - and history in general - has taught us, you can never count out the Cyclones.
 Scoring touchdowns on three of their final four offensive snaps, the Cyclones posted 22 unanswered fourth-quarter points, got one huge turnover and narrowly survived LC’s desperation last-minute drive to outlast the Titans 36-29 in a non-district thriller.
 “Man, what a game,” said HCHS head coach Todd Bladt. “To come down to the last play, you don’t see that too often where it’s up in the air until there’s four zeros on the board.
 “This is just a team win. Coming back [from] down 15 points, you’re going to have to dig down in high school. It’s not that easy to come back from a 15-point deficit against that team with 11 minutes left in the game. I’m just proud of them and I’m proud of everything that they did.”
 That one final, dramatic play was set up by Wyatt Hatcher’s 25-yard catch to the 14 with just :04 left.
 LC junior quarterback Braylon Kammrad then stood in the pocket and rifled a throw toward the end zone that was tipped slightly by linebacker Matthew Sorfonden. Crossing from left to right in heavy traffic, Titan receiver Brayden Loftin went to the turf and ended up with the ball in his hands, but officials ruled that it first hit the ground and signaled incomplete.
 As Lewis Central pleaded its case for a touchdown, the Cyclones celebrated their fourth straight win over the Titans and the student section rushed the field.
 Cyclone junior quarterback Teagon Kasperbauer, now 3-0 against the Titans, passed for 357 yards and four touchdowns on the night, including the game-winning 50-yarder to Joey Moser with 1:48 to go.

Full article in August 31 Harlan Tribune.

HCHS 36, Lewis Central 29
Lewis Central    14    8    0    7 --- 29
HCHS                  0    7    7    22 --- 36
    CB LC: Jonathan Humpal 4-yd. run (Boston Hensley kick) - 1st qt., 8:58.
 CB LC: Braylon Kammrad 1-yd. run (Hensley kick) - 1st qt., 2:52.
 HCHS: Will McLaughlin 4-yd. pass from Teagon Kasperbauer (Stephen Leinen kick) - 2nd qt., 7:36.
 CB LC: Kammrad 5-yd. run (Caleb Moore pass from Luciano Fidone) - 2nd qt., 0:17.
 HCHS: William Kenkel 1-yd. run (Leinen kick) - 3rd qt., 7:38.
 CB LC: Humpal 35-yd. run (Hensley kick) - 4th qt., 11:18.
 HCHS: Connor Frame 17-yd. pass from Kasperbauer (Leinen kick) - 4th qt., 6:36.
 HCHS: Frame 24-yd. pass from Kasperbauer (Jacob Birch pass from Kasperbauer) - 4th qt., 3:45.
 HCHS: Joey Moser 50-yd. pass from Kasperbauer (Leinen kick) - 4th qt., 1:48.
CB LC        HCHS
18    First Downs    19
28-123    Rush att.-Yards    16-37
261    Passing Yards    357
384    Total Yards    394
18-33-0    Comp.-Att.-Int.    26-46-1
1-0    Fumbles-lost    0-0
5-39.0    Punts-avg.    3-36.3
9-78    Penalties-yards    4-30
Harlan Community Individual Stat Leaders
    Rushing -- Aidan Hall 1-18, Will McLaughin 7-14. Passing -- Teagon Kasperbauer 26-46-1, 357. Receiving -- Jacob Birch 9-119, Joey Moser 3-73, Connor Frame 5-66, Brad Curren 2-37, Hall 4-34, William Kenkel 2-24.
    Punting -- Stephen Leinen 3-109 (36.3). Kickoffs -- Leinen 6-357 (59.5), 5 TBs.
    Tackles -- Hall 5s/2a, Garrett Assmann 4s/3a, Jameson Bieker 4s/3a, Curren 2s/5a, Joseph Fah 5s/1a, Zane Bendorf 1s/5a, McLaughlin 1s/4a, Stanley 1s/4a, Wil Neuharth 2s/1a. Tackles for loss -- Fah 1 assist, Bendorf 1 assist. QB Sack -- Fah/Bendorf. Fumble recovery -- Alex Monson.
Lewis Central Individual Stat Leaders
    Rushing -- Jonathan Humpal 21-113. Passing -- Braylon Kammrad 18-33-0, 261. Receiving -- Brayden Loftin 5-116, Blake Cyboron 3-63, Humpal 4-49, Luciano Fidone 3-35. Interception -- Caleb Moore.

 
 

 

Harlan Newspapers

1114 7th Street
P.O. Box 721
Harlan, IA 51537-0721

(800) 909-6397
news2@harlanonline.com

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