(Harlan) It took #1 Harlan less than four minutes to jump in front of #3 Nevada by a 14-0 score in Friday’s Class 3A Quartefinal matchup and the Cyclones rolled to a 55-7 victory.
Aidan Hall intercepted a pass on the third play of the contest and scored Harlan’s first play from scrimmage. After his 28 yard rushing TD the Cyclone defense immediately forced a three and out. On Harlan’s second play from scrimmage Hall reached the end zone on a 60 yard pass play from Teagon Kasperbauer.
The Cyclones would push the lead to 35-0 by the 6:35 mark in the 2nd quarter. Nevada’s lone scoring drive of the night was set up by a Drew Robinson 62 yard kick return. Noah Mills found Kyle Kingsbury for a key conversion on 4th and 12 and a couple of plays later it was Kingsbury from Mills for a 13 yard TD connection with 1:22 left in the half.
The momentum was brief. Matthew Sorfonden fielded a squib kick and sprinted 64 yards to the house. Harlan held a 41-7 halftime lead. Aiden Hall added a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter to make it a 55-7 final.
Hall shined the brightest of any of Harlan’s deep group of playmakers. The Iowa commit ran nine times for 79 yards and four scores, caught three passes for 61 yards and a TD, had a 40 yard scoop and score, and intercepted a pass. Bret VanBaale and Brad Curren also came away with interceptions for a stingy Harlan defense. The Cyclones are allowing 7.3 points per game against Class 3A foes this season. Interior defensive linemen Gunner Schmitz and Zane Bendorf were critical in limiting Nevada’s rushing attack while linebackers Garrett Assmanm, Bret VanBaale, and Matthew Sorfonden didn’t back down. The Cubs were limited to 15 yards rushing before the second unit entered the game late.
Teagon Kasperbauer completed 8/10 passes for 151 yards with two touchdowns. Brad Curren caught a 25 yard touchdown on a screen pass. Cade Sears had two catches for 48 yards, including a key 3rd and long conversion on a deflected pass to set up a short Hall TD run.
Harlan has won 102 playoff games in their 41 postseason appearances. Kasperbauer moves within one TD pass of 2nd on the 11-player all-time list. He’s thrown 105. Drew Adams has 106 and Hunter Dekkers tossed 126. Kasperbauer is up to 8,177 career yards.
Harlan will play at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 12th against #4 (10-1) ADM. The beat the Tigers 42-7 in the regular season. KS95.7 FM will have the broadcast. The other 3A semifinal kicks at 7:00 p.m. between #2 (11-0) Mount Vernon and #6 (10-1) Humboldt.
