The Hartley Sentinel-The Everly/Royal News - Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties

To paraphrase a line from the TV series Star Trek, Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn is going boldly where no previous Hawk football team has gone before.

Where the Hawks are going is to the third round of the football playoffs. No previous H-M-S team had won a second-round playoff game until last Friday night. With that accomplishment behind them, the Hawks now focus their attention on West Hancock (8-1), who will host Friday night’s Class A Pod A matchup at Britt.

“The kids appreciate where they are at,” Hawk coach Tyler Horkey said. “We’re happy we’re here. To get to the round of 16 is huge.”

The Hawks and Eagles have only played one other time. That was in a second-round battle at Britt during the 1997 1A playoffs, which West Hancock won, 19-13.

In 2020, West Hancock suffered a 14-6 loss to Garner-Hayfield/Ventura and earned a 13-7 win over Forest City in non-district play. The Eagles then rolled through Class A District 2, averaging 50.6 points per game and winning by a 40-point margin. That trend has continued in postseason, where the Eagles have defeated Manson Northwest Webster and Madrid by a combined score of 111-22.

West Hancock has rushed for just over 3,000 yards in nine games, led by senior Cole Kelly with 1,521 yards. He has scored 30 of the Eagles’ 45 touchdowns. Their offense has passed for just 180 yards.

The Eagles’ defense has recorded 81 tackles for loss and has intercepted 15 passes, returning five for touchdowns.

CLASS A PLAYOFFS

• Scores for Oct. 23

H-M-S 38, Gehlen Catholic 6

Riverside 26, Lawton-Bronson 24

South O’Brien 8, Ridge View 6

• Games for Oct. 30 (7 p.m.)

(Pod B) H-M-S at West Hancock (Britt)

Nodaway Valley at Grundy Center

(Pod A) South O’Brien at St. Albert (Council Bluffs)

Riverside, Oakland at Logan-Magnolia