Defense, Tough Running Gete Cyclone FB Shutout over Monarchs, 28-0

Harlan Community's Shane Cooper (9-19-25)

Defense, Tough Running Gete Cyclone FB Shutout over Monarchs, 28-0 –

(9-19-25) – Mission… accomplished.

Harlan Community forced three first half turnovers and gained 320 yds of offense in a 28-0 shutout of Denison-Schleswig to get their first victory of the season.

Cyclone Coach Todd Bladt felt his team did exactly what they needed to do to earn the win.

“We came into the game, we had three big things that we wanted to do: We wanted to tackle better, we wanted to create turnovers, and we wanted to create explosive plays and we were able to capitalize on all three of those aspects of the game and if you can do those things, you're going to be in the right column at the end of the ball game.”

Harlan Community got a fumble recovery on Denison-Schleswig’s opening drive of the game. Shane Cooper, who rushed for two touchdowns and had a fumble recovery, felt that stop on the opening series set the tone for the game.

“Just getting a stop coming out of the gates, I mean, that's huge. When you can stop a team on the opening drive, it's a lot of momentum for your offense, especially when they go out and score, and that really set the tone for the game.”

Two series later, the Cyclones got their first lead of the season, on a 37-yd scoring strike from Gabe Arkfeld to Landon Nihsen to give them a 7-0 lead.

Cooper would get the first of his two scores in the 2nd qtr, barreling in from 2-yd out and giving Harlan Community a 14-0 lead. An interception by Ray Schechinger near the endzone stopped the Monarchs best scoring chance of the contest just before halftime.

“It was pretty huge,” Cooper talked about Schechinger’s pick. “All week, we had high expectations for our defense. We didn't really want them to put any points on the board.”

Cooper trucked into the end zone from 4-yd out on the opening drive of the 2nd half to increase the Cyclone lead. Arkfeld would find Colton Schneider from 35 yds out to wrap up the scoring.

Harlan Community rushed for 136 yards on the evening and it helped open up the passing game as a result.

“If you can establish a run, it's always going to open the pass and that's kind of what happened tonight.”

Gabe Arkfeld threw for 183 yd and 2 scores with Nihsen catching 5 passes for 57 yds.

Bladt knew getting one in the win column was important for his team.

“Yeah, we needed it. It gets tough, when you're a month in and you're still kind of battling for that first win but these guys know that this is a new season and we know what's in front of us and we're in a position to control our own destiny.”

Cooper says the win was a real shot in the arm for Harlan Community.

“I think first three games, obviously, going 0-3, that sucks, but we had one of the toughest schedules in all of Iowa. I'll say that right now. Just looking forward to next week.”

Harlan Community begins district play on Friday when they travel to Carroll.

View past scores by visiting the Iowa High School Athletic Association's website, Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union website,
or Iowa Quik Stats