HCHS preps for Atlantic’s big play back in non-district finale

 ATLANTIC (Sept. 20) -- As Harlan Community football coach Todd Bladt scanned Quik Stats earlier this week, he struggled to find Atlantic statistical categories that didn’t include Tyler Moen’s name at the top.
 “I think the only thing that he doesn’t lead in would be passer rating... he’s at negative 200,” Bladt cracked, referring to the Atlantic running back’s one and only pass being intercepted by Clarinda last Friday.
 Bladt may be exaggerating a bit when it comes to Moen’s stat rankings, but it’s certainly hard to ignore what the standout track sprinter has accomplished thus far in 2019.
 • Facing Saydel in a season-opening 49-13 Trojan win, Moen rushed for 191 yards and four touchdowns on just six carries, highlighted by an 89-yard dash to end zone. He also had a pick six on defense.
 • In a 35-13 Week 2 loss at Creston, Moen carried the ball 28 times for 237 yards, including a 78-yard TD run, and had another pick six of 60 yards as Atlantic took an early 13-0 lead. He pulled off a successful fake punt as well.
 • In a 34-20 loss at Clarinda, Moen added 91 rushing yards and one score while also catching an 89-yard TD pass from Garrett McLaren.
 Add it all up and that’s 519 rushing yards (9.1 per carry), nine total touchdowns and three takeaways on defense (two INTs and one fumble recovery).
 To say that Moen will have the attention of the Cyclone defense Friday night is an understatement. HCHS (2-1) and Atlantic (1-2) will kick things off at 7:00 p.m. inside the Trojan Bowl in the final non-district game for both teams.
 “Wherever he goes, he’s not going to be dancing by himself,” Bladt said. “It’s not going to be a seventh and eighth grade dance where he’s out there alone."
 The old Harlan-Atlantic football rivalry has been one-sided for a long time now with HCHS winning 35 of the last 36 matchups. But it’s still a rivalry, and one only has to look back two years to see what can happen.
 In their last trip to the Trojan Bowl, a Cyclone team that eventually reached the Class 3A semifinals faced an Atlantic squad that finished 5-4. The game was scoreless at halftime, when HCHS had just 82 yards. The Cyclones eventually pulled away to win 22-0.
 “They will rise up and play. I don’t expect them to just lay down, there’s no way,” Bladt said. “It’s too much of a rivalry and they’ve got a lot of pride down there in Atlantic, so I think they’re going to play their best football against us and that’s kind of week to week anyway."

Harlan Community (2-1) at Atlantic (1-2) • Friday, Sept. 20 • 7:00 p.m.

Series History
HCHS leads all-time, 64-46.
at Harlan: HCHS leads, 34-20; at Atlantic: HCHS leads, 30-26; Playoffs: HCHS leads, 3-0.
HCHS has won 35 of the last 36.

Last 5 Meetings
2014: HCHS won 24-21 (at Harlan)
2015: HCHS won 69-7 (at Atlantic)
2016: HCHS won 49-14 (at Harlan)
2017: HCHS won 22-0 (at Atlantic)
2018: HCHS won 56-14 (at Harlan)

 
 

 

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