HC Football Defense Solid, Offense Struggles in Loss to Carroll, 21-14

HC Football Defense Solid, Offense Struggles in Loss to Carroll, 21-14 –

(9-25-26) – It was theirs for the taking… but they couldn’t capitalize.

Harlan Community battled Carroll in their district opener Friday and while the defense was solid for the Cyclones, the offense failed to move in the 2nd half as they drop a 21-14 decision to the Tigers.

Harlan Community Coach Todd Bladt discussed the offensive struggles in the game.

“We got to be more efficient with the offense. We can't turn the ball over and, you know, we eliminate those things and the ball game changes significantly.”

Game started fast for the Tigers. After forcing a 3-and-out by the Cyclones on their opening drive, they needed just one play to get on the board as Adam Malik took a carry off left tackle and ran it 61 yds to the house for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead.

Harlan Community would fumble on their next drive and Carroll work the ball down the field on 12-play, 57 yd drive, ending in with trick play as backup qb Tallon Crandell would take a reverse from Malik and find a wide open Camden King, the Tigers starting qb, for a 5yd TD reception and 14-0 lead early in the 2nd qtr.

But the Cyclones fought back, running the ball 8 consecutive times to drive 63 yds and finishing with a Kreed Boggess 1yd TD run. Then after a defensive stop forced a Tigers punt, Boggess would connect with returning receiver Colton Schnieder, Harlan Community’s leading receiver from last year, for a 30-yd TD pass to tie the game at 14-14.

Schneider and Foxx Argotsinger, the top defensive back from last season, returned after missing the first four games of the season. Bladt talked about having them back on the roster.

“Yeah, it was important that you know all the guys wanted to see them on the field and we got them out there on the field tonight and they were able to produce some things for us and now we're looking forward to continue to work with them.”

But the Cyclones offense would stall in the 2nd half. They gained just 12 total yds the rest of the way, had an interception on their first drive of the half after getting the ball at the Tiger 49, and gained just two first downs, one by penalty.

Carroll would put together a 12-play, 48-yd drive that ended in a Malik 2-yd TD run to give Carroll the lead for good with 5:03 remaining. The drive was assisted by a questionable defensive holding call on a 4th and 8, that kept it alive.

Harlan Community had two turnovers in the contest and were held to 158 yds total offense for the game.

“I've said it in an interview before, but you got to be a shark with the blood and the water when you get inside that 20,” said Bladt about the teams offensive woes this season. “It's a finished thing and we've got to be better at finishing. We got to have that and got to dig down and really want it more than the other team and that's how you get it in the end zone.”

After Malik’s opening scamper, the Cyclones defense held Carroll to just 170 yds of total offense the rest of the game.

Brody Bendorf was credited with 9 tackles and Coy Obrecht had 7.5 for the Cyclones. Bladt likes the hard work Obrecht has put in this season.

“He's seeing things and it's the game's slowing down a little bit for him. So, we were kind of funneling some things to him and he was able to produce and make some big plays out there.”

Harlan Community now faces must win games the rest of the season, starting on the road against Creston this coming Friday.

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