(Atlantic) Harlan Community secured a 41-16 victory over Atlantic in a Class 3A District #6 football game at Atlantic on Friday night, fueled by big plays and relentless red zone defense.
The Cyclones amassed 407 yards of offense, including 294 rushing yards and 113 passing yards. Meanwhile, Atlantic displayed a strong ground game with 344 rushing yards and 31 passing yards. Despite driving deep into the Red Zone, the Trojans struggled to penetrate Harlan’s formidable defensive front on multiple occasions.
Atlantic scored the first touchdown on a three-yard pass from Tristan Hayes to Xavier Darrow. Trojan tailback Ethan McNeal set up the score with a 54-yard run to the Cyclones’ nine-yard line. Hayes threw a four-yard touchdown pass to Darrow three plays later, putting the home team ahead 6-0. Harlan blocked Hadin Thompson’s extra point.
The Cyclones needed two yards for a first down, and Lukas Francis got the two and more, racing 43 yards to paydirt. Nolan Schwery kicked the extra point, giving Harlan a 7-6 lead with 2:54 to play in the first quarter. Harlan stopped the Trojans on a three-and-out, and following Zander Killion’s punt, the Cyclones started a drive on the 50-yard line. Arkfeld fired a 20-yard TD strike to Dallas McDowell three plays later and opened up a 14-6 lead with 51 seconds left in the first quarter.
After an exchange of punts, the Trojans took possession at their 12-yard line with 8:02 to play in the second quarter. They marched 87 yards in 17 plays, chewing up 7:51 seconds off the clock, and failed to punch it in on a fourth down and three. The Cyclones tackled Tyson O’Brien one foot from the goal line. Harlan ran out the clock with a 14-6 halftime lead.
Harlan came out in the third quarter with guns blazing, scoring on their first play from scrimmage. Gabe Arkfeld emptied his backfield, faked a handoff to Lukas Francis, tucked the football, and raced 71 yards to the end zone, expanding the visitors’ lead to 21-6. Harlan scored again midway through the third quarter on Francis’s 71-yard run, increasing the margin to 27-6. Atlantic answered on its next possession when Gavin McLaren broke through and raced 80 yards to the house. Thompson kicked the extra point to narrow the margin to 27-13. The Trojans tacked three more points on the board following a Harlan fumble. Harlan again denied Atlantic the goal line, forcing Thompson to kick a 27-yard field goal.
Harlan polished off the game with an Arkfeld to Josef Reisz pass of 22 yards and a 23-yard sprint from Francis, bringing the game to a final 41-16.
Gabe Arkfeld went 6-10 passing for 113 yards and two touchdowns. Josef Reisz caught four passes for 78 yards and one touchdown. Lukas Francis carried the ball eleven times for 162 yards and three touchdowns.
Tristan Hayes completed three of seven passes for 31 yards and one touchdown. Ethan McNeal carried the ball 23 times for 162 yards. Gavin McLaren had 15 carries for 151 yards.
Atlantic travels to Nevada next Friday night. Harlan hosts Knoxville.
