(Atlantic) Atlantic used a strong rushing attack and a standout performance from Ethan McNeal to defeat Denison-Schleswig 36-7 Friday night in Atlantic. McNeal rushed for 185 yards on 19 carries and scored three touchdowns to lead the Trojans.
Atlantic finished with 338 total yards, including 265 on the ground and 74 through the air. James Brauer completed eight of 11 passes for 74 yards and a touchdown, while Zander Killion led the Trojans with four receptions for 33 yards and a touchdown. Killion also kicked a 25-yard field goal to close out the first half and raced 50 yards on a fake punt to give Atlantic excellent field position.
Atlantic head coach Joe Brummer credited Denison-Schleswig for its physical play and praised the Trojans’ offensive line for its strong performance.
The first quarter ended in a scoreless tie as both teams battled defensively. Atlantic broke through early in the second quarter when James Brauer connected with Zander Killion on a 12-yard touchdown pass. Midway through the quarter, Ethan McNeal scored on a 14-yard run. Killion then added a 25-yard field goal with three seconds remaining in the first half, sending the Trojans into halftime with a 16-0 lead.
Denison-Schleswig opened the third quarter with two consecutive first downs, but Atlantic’s defense held the Monarchs in check. The Trojans then scored three straight touchdowns. McNeal found the end zone on an 18-yard run, followed by Jake Wailes’ six-yard touchdown run that gave Atlantic a 29-0 lead at the end of the third quarter.
McNeal added another touchdown early in the fourth quarter, breaking free for a 71-yard run down the sideline to give Atlantic a 36-0 advantage and start the running clock. Both teams began emptying their benches midway through the quarter. With 4:23 remaining, Denison-Schleswig stopped the running clock when Chris Castro scored on a 4-yard touchdown run, making the final score 36-7.
With the win, Atlantic improved to 1-1 and will travel to Des Moines Christian next Friday night for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff. Denison-Schleswig also moves to 1-1 and will host Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.
