(Harlan, IA) — Harlan Head Coach Todd Bladt says his team needed to get back to running the football. That’s what they did on Friday night — Senior Ayden Redmon had a career 243 yards on 19 carries and 3 TD as the Cyclones rolled over Creston 56-35.
Harlan had been snakebit all season long and they committed an offsides penalty to allow the Panthers to go for it on 4th and short and Jackson Pettigrew would score from 1 yard to take an early 7-0 lead.
The Cyclones then scored four straight TDs as Brody Bendorf capped Harlan’s opening drive with a 6 yard TD run to tie it up. After a Creston 3 and out, Landon Nihsen returned the punt 66 yards for a TD and after another 3 and out, Redmon broke a 77 yard TD run and it was 21-7 Harlan at the end of the first quarter.
Harlan’s Ray Schechinger picked off Creston’s Tanner Ray to set up another score by Bendorf to make it 28-7.
The Panthers finally got a drive going and scored on a 2 yard Pettigrew run and then recovered an onside kick. However, on 4th and Goal on the 6, Ray’s pass fell incomplete. Harlan answered as Gabe Arkfeld found Colton Schneider on a 42 yard pass and then heaved it to end zone and Nihsen caught it for a 30 yard score and Harlan led 35-14 at the half.
On the opening drive of the 2nd half, Harlan moved down the field and Shane Cooper squeezed in for a 3 yard TD run to make it 42-14. Ray found Jace Purdum on a 12 yard TD pass and after a Cyclone 3 and out, Ray got a 6 yard TD run to cut the lead to 42-28.
Redmon took over the game on the ground, getting TD runs of 11 and 31 while Gabe Kauffman had a 44 yard TD run for Creston but Harlan won the offensive night and earned their 2nd win of the season.
Unofficially there were 899 yards of total offense between the two teams.
Harlan Official Stats
Ayden Redmon 17 carries, 243 yards, 3 TD
Brody Bendorf 11 carries, 64 yards, 2 TD
Gabe Arkfeld 7 carries, 50 yards; 5-11 passing, 98 yards, 1 TD
Creston Official Stats
Tanner Ray 14 carries, 103 yards, 1 TD; 16-25 passing for 222 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Jackson Pettigrew 17 carries, 58 yards, 2 TD
Gabe Kauffman 7 carries, 81 yards, 1 TD
Jace Purdum 7 catches, 98 yards, 1 TD
Creston (0-6) 7-7-7-14 — 35
Harlan (2-4) 21-14-7-14 — 56
