Coming up with the answers
H-M-S controls second half against Hinton in playoff victory
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MIKE PETERSEN/SENTINEL-NEWS
H-M-S senior football players and cheerleaders walked off Peterson Field in unison for one final time last Friday night following the Hawks' 46-27 win over Hinton. With this week's playoff game hitting the road to Moville before games head to the UNI-Dome, the group's time on the home field expired when the clock hit 00:00. Senior football players pictured from left to right: Ethan Diehm, Keevyn Jacobsma, Travis Kamradt, Lance Berends, Elijah Groeneweg (jersey only due to injury), Ethan Baker, Spencer McCarter, Tyson Tessum, Kooper Ebel, Ryan Borden, Landen Elwood and Trenton Vollink. Cheerleaders pictured are Anissa Bush (far left) and Destiny Olvera (far right).
Stymied by Hinton for much of the first half, Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn took control in the third quarter to claim a 46-27 win in the second round of the Class A football playoffs.
Although H-M-S had won the regular season matchup by 35 points, Hinton only trailed by one at half time of the Oct. 25 postseason game at Peterson Field.
"I think the kids knew this was a big game. I think they recognized it," said Hawk coach Jay Eilers. "But they also realized we were playing somebody we had beaten pretty handily before. Our practices were crisp – very high level practices. So I don't think we were overlooking them."
The Blackhawks' opening 10-play drive set the early tone. Quarterback Glen Carlson scored on a nine-yard run and the PAT was good, giving Hinton a 7-0 lead. H-M-S was forced to punt and later fumbled deep in Blackhawk territory to finish the first quarter with no points.
Taking advantage of a short field, the Hawks got on the scoreboard early in the second quarter on a nine-yard run by Travis Kamradt. Kooper Ebel ran the conversion attempt. But Hinton responded, taking a 13-8 lead on a 17-yard pass play.
H-M-S quickly answered, as Ebel connected with Ryan Borden for a 76-yard scoring strike. Their slim 14-13 advantage was the half time score.
"I felt like we were just tight. I felt like we were pressing a little bit, like we were trying to force big plays or force it to be over," Eilers acknowledged. "We felt like it shouldn't be that close, but we knew it was going to be."
The game wasn't as tight in the second half, as the Hawks scored twice in the third quarter. Ebel ran 14 yards to the end zone and Trenton Vollink scored on a seven-yard run. Ebel ran both conversion attempts, increasing H-M-S's lead to 30-13.
A few adjustments at half time helped the Hawks take control of the contest.
"Defensively, we just asked our kids to make sure their alignment was correct," Eilers noted. "Our locker was so calmed and relaxed. We were just talking to our kids, some things that we wanted to do moving forward offensively."
Hinton fought back in the final period, scoring on passes of 25 and 15 yards. However, the Hawks had the answer in Ebel, who scored on runs of 25 and 23 yards to make the final score 46-27.
Ebel finished with 214 rushing yards on 23 attempts. He also completed 3-of-5 passes for 92 yards.
Vollink ran 14 times for 78 yards and Kamradt rushed five times for 20. Ethan Diehm had two pass receptions for 16 yards.
Eilers said changes in the blocking scheme helped the offense in the second half. One advantage was that Lance Berends was blocking one of Hinton's best defenders. Eilers also felt junior Austin Smith "did a tremendous job" in his first start at center.
The defensive limited the Blackhawks to 90 rushing yards. They passed for 217.
Ebel led the defense with 8.5 total tackles (seven solo). Kamradt made his presence felt in his first game back from injury, recording eight tackles (six solo), and Berends added 7.5 tackles (six solo, two for loss).
Other tacklers were Keevyn Jacobsma 6/5, Ethan Wiersma 5/4, Diehm 4/4, Bryce Ortega 4/3, JR Araiza and Vollink 3.5/3, Borden 3/3, Landon Elwood and Adam Schierholz 3/2.
• Next Up: at Woodbury Central
H-M-S (8-2) travels to Moville on Friday to play Woodbury Central (10-0) in the quarterfinal round of the Class A playoffs. It is the first meeting between the Hawks and the champions of District 8.
MIKE PETERSEN/SENTINEL-NEWS
Travis Kamradt fights through the tackle of Gabe Anderson to score the Hawks' first touchdown in their win over Hinton.
"I'm super proud of our kids, super excited we're one of eight teams still practicing," Eilers said. "But our kids and our coaches know that we have bigger goals. In order for us to get to those goals, we've got to be very disciplined. We've got to be very committed to each rep that we get in practice and we've got to watch a bunch of film."
Wildcat quarterback Drew Kluender has passed for 2,816 yards and 31 touchdowns. Four receivers have at least 30 receptions and over 500 receiving yards. But Woodbury Central can also run the ball, led by Max McGill who has rushed for 1,370 yards.
"I know their quarterback is a stud and I know the kid can sling the ball around," Eilers acknowledged. "We've done some things in the past that will fit well with what we want to do and with what they do. We'll be in good positions Friday night. We're excited. We'll be ready to roll."
