Missed opportunities haunt Hawks in district opener

Mistakes and missed opportunities eventually caught up with Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn's football team during a 20-12 loss to South O'Brien on Sept. 11 at Peterson Field. The game marked the beginning of Class A District 1 play for both teams.

Since the Hawks scored all their points in the first half and the Wolverines' all came in the final quarter, it might seem that each team won a half. But Hawk coach Tyler Horkey didn't see it that way.

"It wasn't a tale of two halves," he said. "We made so many mistakes."

Whether it was fumbles (3), interceptions (4) or penalties (13 for 115 yards), the negative numbers didn't add up for the Hawks.

"We did those to ourselves," Horkey said. "We did not play the way we should have or could have. We did not play H-M-S football."

The Hawks started well, driving the ball downfield and scoring on a 3-yard run by Keaton Graves.

"We moved the ball quite easily on that first drive," Horkey noted.

A pair of penalties during their next possession forced the Hawks to punt. But the defense stepped up, as DJ Doyle intercepted a pass and took the ball to the end zone. The score extended the lead to 12-0 late in the first quarter.

Doyle also intercepted a pass in the end zone to end a Wolverine scoring threat early in the second quarter.

A penalty nullified Noah Adams' apparent receiving touchdown late in the half. After another penalty by H-M-S, the Wolverines intercepted a pass to keep the score at 12-0.

The second half, which was played in a steady rain, remained scoreless until early in the fourth quarter. South O'Brien got on the scoreboard with a 5-yard run by Mason Warnke, who also ran the conversion.

Jett Keith's 38-yard run gave the Wolverines a 2-point lead with 7-1/2 minutes to play. Keith also scored on a 13-yard run late in the game to make the final score 20-12.

Total yardage numbers were nearly identical (182-185), but there were large disparities between the teams' rushing and passing numbers.

H-M-S only rushed for 50 yards on 27 carries, but had 132 passing yards on 4-of-12 attempts.

Leading rushers were Dawson Schiphoff with 20 yards and Travis Kamradt with 17. Through the air, Adams had two receptions for 74 yards, Connor Dodd had one for 45 yards and Graves had one for 13.

On the other side, South O'Brien rushed for 160 yards on 42 carries, and completed 3-of-7 passes for 25 yards. The Wolverines were penalized four times for 40 yards.

Horkey felt the Hawk defense played well for most of the game. Tackle leaders were Ebel with nine solos (three for loss), Kamradt with six solos and three assists; Kayl Jacobsma with six solos; Lance Berends with five solos; Schiphoff with two solos and four assists; Gabe Bronstad and Dodd with three solos; and Jordan Ortega with two.

• Next up: at Gehlen Catholic

H-M-S (1-2, 0-1) looks to get back into the win column against Gehlen Catholic (2-0, 1-0) on Friday. The Hawks have won the past two meetings with the Jays, but neither came easily.

"They have some great athletes and they are quick," Horkey noted.

Gehlen Catholic's offense is "very complex," especially their passing attack. They can also run the football, so the Hawk defense will be challenged both ways. Moving the ball against the Jays will require improved execution.

CLASS A DISTRICT 1

Scores for Sept. 11

South O'Brien 20, H-M-S 12

Gehlen Catholic 53, Akron-Westfield 8

Lawton-Bronson 54, MMCRU 13

Games for Sept. 18

H-M-S at Gehlen Catholic (LeMars)

Lawton-Bronson at Akron-Westfield

MMCRU at South O'Brien