Really close

The score wasn't kept, but the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn football team's 2024 public debut showed positive signs for the future.

H-M-S and Hinton held a scrimmage Friday night at Hinton that featured the varsity offenses and defenses, along with opportunities for JV players to see playing time. Hinton "won" the scrimmage, scoring five touchdowns while H-M-S scored two. But Hawk coach Jeremiah Delzer was encouraged by the team's performance in a new system.

"We're playing with brand new techniques against maybe the most physical team that we might play all year. So it's new and guys have just got to get used to it," he said.

"We're that close on everything," Delzer added, holding his finger and thumb about an inch apart. "We're going to have to watch film and improve, but I think we're really close."

The Hawks scored on a pass from Jack Mastbergen to Slayton McCarter, and a short run by James Gellerman. Exchange student Octmann Mattis kicked the PATs, contributing to a "really good" performance by the special teams that included a kickoff return that nearly went for a touchdown.

Delzer was especially happy with the pace at which the Hawk offense operated.

"Our thing is attack mentality and I think that was exactly what we had because I've never played a football game where I've had the refs trying to hold us from going, so I was pretty excited when we started getting that," he said.

Physicality will be an emphasis as the defense prepares for Friday's season-opener with West Sioux in Hartley.

"We learned today that we've got to up that in practice so we can compete in a game," Delzer noted. "Other than that, I'm pretty happy with where we are. We're where we want to be and where we expect to be for a Week 0 scrimmage."