(Atlantic) Atlantic broke a two-game scoring drought in a big way with a 37-13 win over Shenandoah in a non-district football game at Atlantic on Friday.
The Trojans, scoreless through the first two games, rolled up 315 yards of offense. Caden Andersen was 5-8 throwing the football for 135 yards and three touchdowns. Garrett McLaren caught three passes for 86 yards and two touchdowns, and Dante Hedrington carried the ball 25 times for 103 yards and one touchdown.
“The kids brought their pads to the game tonight, “said Atlantic Head Coach Joe Brummer. “We’ve been emphasizing that the past couple of weeks, and it finally came to fruition. The kids played a good football game, and we had success running the ball.”
Shenandoah ended the night with 213 yards of total offense. Nolan Mount completed 9-20 passes for 127 yards and one touchdown. Brody Cullen caught two passes for 67-yards and one touchdown. Beau Gardner carried the ball seven times for 41 yards and one touchdown.
“I am pleased with the defense, and Coach Saathoff did a great job, and the kids were flying around,” said Brummer. “We finally got a defensive score, and the kids played well.”
Atlantic struck first midway through the first quarter when Caden Andersen fired an 11-yard touchdown pass to Jackson McLaren. The Trojans missed the extra point and led 6-0 with 6:45 left in the first quarter. The Mustangs answered quickly. Brody Cullin snuck behind the Trojan defenders, and sophomore quarterback Nolan Mount threads the needle for a 57-yard touchdown. Zwickel kicked the extra point, and Shenandoah led 7-6 at the end of the first quarter.
The turning point in the game came with 7:41 left to play in the second quarter. Atlantic junior cornerback Jackson McLaren intercepted Mount’s pass near mid-field and raced down the sideline for a pick-six. Andersen hit Carter Pellett for the two-point conversion to put the Trojans up 14-7. Atlantic padded the lead to 21-7 late in the second quarter on Andersen’s 12 yard TD strike to Garrett McLaren. Nelson booted the extra point, and the Trojans led 21-7 at the break.
Garrett McLaren sprung loose again midway through the third quarter, and Caden Andersen fired another dart for a 31-yard score. Nelson drilled the extra point, and the Trojans separated themselves 28-7. The Trojans added to their lead when Colton Becker sacked Shenandoah quarterback Nolan Mount for safety, and Dante Hedrington plowed over from two yards out to give Atlantic a 37-7 lead with 9:32 left.
Beau Gardner punched in a late-game score to bring the game to a final score of 37-13.
Atlantic now (1-2) travel to Ballard in week 4. Shenandoah hosts Red Oak next week.
