Harlan races to 56-7 lead; NV rallies; AHST overtakes Corning in second half
Harlan 56,
Creston/Orient-Macksburg 21
CRESTON — Harlan, ranked No. 6 on this week’s Associated Press poll, tuned up for next week’s showdown with undefeated and ninth-ranked Lewis Central by rolling up a 56-7 halftime margin on the way to a 56-21 victory over Creston/O-M.
Reid Murtaugh scored three touchdowns, James Cairney had two receiving TDs and an interception return for a score, and Dylan Barrett ran for two touchdowns as the Cyclones passed the 50-mark in the second quarter, with reserves on the field before halftime.
“All 88 guys we brought got into the game,” Harlan coach Curt Bladt said.
Early in the game fans saw the unusual occurrence of back-to-back kickoff returns for touchdowns, as Panther junior Seth Pals ran a kick back 88 yards to close Harlan’s lead to 14-7. Murtaugh answered with an 85-yard return on the ensuing kick.
The Cyclones added five touchdowns in the second quarter, one on Cairney’s interception return and two others after Panther fumbles deep in their own territory.
Receiver Kevin Irr took over at quarterback with 7:23 left in the second quarter after Luke Eblen injured a knee on a running play. He returned to the dressing room on crutches after the game and said an MRI will be done to diagnose the injury by Monday.
Nonetheless, Creston/O-M was able to outscore the Cyclone reserves 14-0 in the second half on a 51-yard run by Brody Jay and a 74-yard scamper by Irr. The entire second half was played with a continuous clock under the state’s 35-point rule.
In one half, Cairney had 89 yard in receptions for Harlan and Murtaugh ran for 61 yards.
Harlan improved to 7-1 overall and 6-0 in District 8, matching LC’s district mark. The Titans went to 8-0 overall by defeating Winterset 45-17.
Creston/O-M fell to 1-7 overall and 0-6 in the district. Clarke, also 0-6 in district play, slipped to 0-8 overall heading into next week’s game at Creston with a 28-0 loss to Atlantic. The Indians trailed 14-0 at halftime.
Nodaway Valley 53,
Des Moines Christian 27
GREENFIELD — Nodaway Valley’s Spencer Miller ran for a season-high 266 yards as the Wolverines stayed in control for the final substate playoff spot in Class 1A District 6 with a 53-27 victory.
But, it was Des Moines Christian who got out to the fast start. Josh Arment went 97 yards on the opening kickoff and after a Nodaway Valley 3-and-out, the Lions took advantage of a bad snap on the punt. Des Moines Christian scored two plays later on an Arment run, and the Lions were up 14-0.
Nodaway Valley pulled within 14-12 on a Nick Fox to Spencer Scar touchdown pass and a Cody Daugherty scamper, and in the second quarter, the Wolverines went ahead on a 60-yard run by Miller.
The Wolverines went on to take a 26-20 halftime lead, with Miller collecting 142 yards on the ground. And in the second half, the Wolverines expanded their lead. Miller collected two second-half rushing touchdowns while Daugherty added one more.
The final score of the game was an 86-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Kaleb Wessel.
AHST 34,
Corning 17
CORNING — No. 1-rated AHST (Avoca) came alive in the second half to pull away from the Corning Red Raiders, 34-17.
The Red Raiders got off to a quick start with a 21-yard field goal by Blake Thompson. AHST would come back to answer with a powerful 54-yard run by quarterback Seth Enke.
Corning took to the air in the second quarter from a Drew Bartenhagen to Billy Dimmler pass. AHST pulled back ahead on a running TD, 14-10.
To close out the half, Corning’s Michael Webb took a kick off almost 80 yards to put the Red Raiders ahead of the top-ranked Vikings, 17-14. That would be the end of the Red Raider scoring, however.
AHST came alive in the second half and went on a 20-0 run. The Red Raiders had little answer on defense for stopping three big plays that led to Viking touchdowns. A 73-yard pass highlighted AHST’s passing plays.
“Hats off to Avoca, they played a great second half, but if we could have stopped those big plays we could have played with or even beat the number one team in the state. I am proud of the effort the boys put out tonight,” said Corning head coach Kent Bass.
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Other western and south central Iowa scores reported Friday night:
PREP FOOTBALL
Adair-Casey 52, Coon Rapids-Bayard 22
Adel ADM 26, Glenwood 20
Afton East Union 32, Des Moines Grandview Park Baptist 13
AHST 34, Corning 17
Anita CAM 26, Exira 24
Atlantic 28, Osceola Clarke 0
Boyer Valley 21, Bedford 0
Carroll Kuemper 41, Red Oak 0
C.B. Lewis Central 45, Winterset 17
C.B. St. Albert 36, Griswold 0
Clarinda Academy 34, Riverside 20
Denison-Schleswig 35, MOC-Floyd Valley 28 (2OT)
East Mills 36, Essex 8
Glidden-Ralston 64, Elk Horn-Kimballton 14
Greenfield Nodaway Valley 53, Des Moines Christian 27
Harlan 56, Creston/O-M 21
Huxley Ballard 28, Jefferson JSPC 6
IKM-Manning 47, Clarinda 16
Lamoni 72, Ankeny Christian Academy 31
Lenox 70, Seymour 6
Maple Valley/Anthon/Oto 39, Shenandoah 0
Melcher-Dallas 72, Moravia 12
Missouri Valley 20, O-A/BCIG 13
Murray 51, Garden Grove Mormon Trail 26
Neola Tri-Center 29, Logan-Magnolia 6
Norwalk 22, Carlisle 17
Ogden 19, Guthrie Center 14
Panora Panorama 47, Audubon 27
Pella Christian 27, Mount Ayr 26
Pella 58, Knoxville 7
Pleasantville 49, Central Decatur 31
Sidney 50, South page 22
Stanton 74, Hamburg 7
Thornburg Tri-County 62, Farmington Harmony 12
Treynor 14, Fremont-Mils 14
Truro Interstate 35 29, Corydon Wayne 7
Underwood 43, Onawa West Monona 14
Van Meter 46, Mondamin West Harrison 3
Villisca 44, Farragut 8
