(Neola) 5-3 Tri-Center matches up with 6-2 Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn in a Class A playoff contest this Friday.
Tri-Center has gone from 2-3 to the playoffs with three consecutive victories. Things looked bleak for the Trojans following a high ankle sprain to star running back and linebacker Brecken Freeberg midway through the year, but team turned things around. Coach Ryan Schroder fills us in on how they’ve done it. “I think the biggest thing for us is we had to deal with the injury to Brecken Freeberg. It’s been the kids just stepping up and making plays and putting the team ahead of themselves. They are just playing as a group right now and playing really strong. That’s what every coach wants is to play your best football at the end of the year. The kids have been bringing it every week.”
The big win was a 26-23 win decision over then #2 Woodbury Central. Quarterback turned running back Michael Turner has provided a big spark. He’s averaged 210 rushing yards per game since becoming the featured ball carrier in Week 6. In wins against Lawton-Bronson, Woodbury Central, and Westwood he has a total of nine rushing TD’s. “Michael is a really good athlete so we know we could move him to running back after Brecken got injured and we’d be fine. The thing that’s been great is he gets better every week.”
Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn earned the right to host this game as the District 1 champion. The only losses for the Hawks came in Week 1 to Class 1A power West Sioux and in a Week 6 non-district game to 2019 state champ West Hancock. “They are going to run the ball. They have a good quarterback and the running back is pretty decent.” Schroders says, “A lot of similarities to what we’ve seen recently.”
Freeberg is hoping to give it a go this week, but will likely see more time on offense than defense. Maddox Anderson has become the starter at quarterback since Turner shifted to running back. Anderson has completed 41/62 passes for 610 yards with five touchdowns and five interceptions. “It’s gone really well. Maddox throws a beautiful ball. He did a really good job last Friday against Westwood. He’s stepping up and he’s very accurate.”
The defense has gone from allowing 26.5 points per game the first four weeks, to giving up 18.5 over the last four games. They’ve done it despite being without Freeberg who was averaging over 15 tackles per game. “We didn’t have to make too many changes. Ashton McDermott and Jaxyn Valadez have done a great job for us. We have a freshman Carter Kunze that ha been starting ever since Brecken went down and he hasn’t had too much trouble stepping in and making plays.”
The playoff appearance marks a big turnaround for a Tri-Center team that finished 2-5 last year. It’s their 9th playoff qualification. HMS is making their 10th postseason appearance. The Hawks employ a balanced rushing attack with 1,075 yards from running back Connor Dodd and 990 yards from quarterback Kooper Ebel. They are #1 in Class A in total touchdowns this year with 49. Their 2,532 yard rushing output is 3rd most in the state behind Earlham and East Buchanan.
Tri-Center coach Ryan Schroder:
