(Harlan) Harlan Community hosts Atlantic Friday night in a Class 3A District 6 football showdown. The Cyclones are 2-1 in district play, while the Trojans enter the game undefeated at 3-0.
The two teams were in a similar position a year ago, battling for a playoff spot. Atlantic won that contest on a late kickoff return by Ethan McNeal. Harlan Head Coach Todd Bladt says the Cyclones have been in the playoff hunt over the last two weeks.
Bladt says one of the biggest challenges will be getting Atlantic’s offense off the field. The Trojans rely heavily on the run, with 1,768 rushing yards and 542 passing yards.
McNeal leads the Atlantic rushing attack with 127 carries for 975 yards, averaging 7.7 yards per carry, and 15 rushing touchdowns, and a 94-yard kick return for a score. Senior fullback Jake Wailes has added 408 yards on 55 carries.
Harlan played fourth-ranked Carroll close in the district opener, led 14-0, then fell 21-14. The Cyclones showed their resilience against Creston, trailing 17-14 early in the third quarter before responding with 43 unanswered points to win 57-26.
Bladt says special teams can play a big role in the outcome. He notes a punt can help flip field position and points to McNeal’s kickoff return in last year’s matchup as an example of how special teams can impact a game.
We will broadcast Friday night’s game on KS95.7 and livestream it at westerniowatoday.com. The pregame show begins at 6 p.m., with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.
