(Harlan) Harlan Community’s 392-yard offense, tough run defense, two interceptions, and one fumble recovery powered to a 42-21 win over Atlantic in a Class 3A District #6 game Friday night in Harlan. The Cyclones passed for 264 yards and rushed for 128.
Kreed Boggess completed 13 of 22 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns. Colton Schnieder led the receivers with five catches for 124 yards and two touchdowns. Brody Bendorf led the rushing attack with 11 carries for 50 yards and one touchdown.
Atlantic sophomore quarterback James Brauer completed 12 passes for 145 yards and one touchdown. Zander Killion scored all three touchdowns for Atlantic on a 53-yard touchdown catch, a 39-yard punt return, and an 88-yard kickoff return. The Trojans had 165 total passing yards and were held to 65 rushing yards. Benton McLaren led the Trojans’ ground game with 12 carries for 56 yards.
The Cyclones moved the ball deep into Trojans territory on their opening drive; however, the Trojans’ defense stiffened, forcing Harlan to settle for a short-range field goal that missed. Harlan then struck first with 2:35 to play in the first quarter; Landon Nihsen connected with Colton Schneider on a 29-yard halfback pass. Jacob Spangenberg’s PAT gave Harlan a 7-0 advantage. Brody Bendorf capped the drive with a nine-yard run with 7:44 left, putting the home team up 14-0 after the extra point.
Atlantic cut Harlan’s lead in half with 2:47 left to play in the second quarter on Zander Killion’s 39-yard punt return. The PAT narrowed the score to 14-7. Harlan finished the first half with a 56-yard pass from Boggess to Schneider, making it 21-7 at the half.
Harlan scored once in the third quarter, and three more times in the final frame. Foxx Argotsinger scored on a 70-yard pick-six in the third quarter, and Boggess hit Nihsen on a 30-yard pass to make it 35-7 with 10:20 left to play.
The Trojans continued to battle. Killion caught a 53-yard TD pass from James Brauer. Levi Shields scored on a short run, and Zander Killion finished off a big night with an 88-yard kick return for a Touchdown.
(4-4)-(3-1) Harlan wraps up its regular-season play at Greene County next Friday night. Atlantic (5-3 overall, 3-1 in district play) squares off against Carroll at homenext Friday night. The kickoff is at 7:00 p.m.
