The South Hardin football team, with balanced attack offensively and a lockdown defense performance, took home a 37-0 win over Iowa Falls-Alden in a Hardin County Rivalry on Friday, as aired on 104.9 KLMJ. It was the Tigers fourth straight win in the series and the third they brought the Hardin County Tire back to Eldora.
South Hardin set the tone for a strong night offensively with a six-play opening drive which was capped off by a Kayden Adams two yard touchdown run to take a 7-0 lead. After a Casey Williamson interception, the Tigers struck again on a 22-yard sprint to the house by Peyton Welch on a 4th and 2 to extend their lead to 14-0. The Tigers found the end zone one more time before the half, with a four-yard touchdown carry by Adams to go up 21-0.
In the third quarter, after a South Hardin punt inside IFA’s six yard line, the Tiger forced a safety to get the ball back, then struck quickly with a 42-yard touchdown reception by Sam Benson to go up 30-0. The Tigers set the 35-point running clock rule in motion in the fourth quarter via a 12 yard touchdown reception by Benson to close out the win. Tigers Head Coach Nick Eller on a full team effort to bring back the tire.
“Very proud of the guys for keeping the tire. It’s a very big pride thing for us. We played just a full game tonight. Special teams were good. Defense was really good. Offense I thought was good enough,” says Eller. “I think we still have some plays out there, but that’s stuff we’ve got to clean up and work on our own. When we can get that stuff, that’s doable to work on. Really proud to have a full-phase team effort and that’s what we’re hoping for.”
Peyton Welch had 152 passing yards and two touchdowns (one passing and one rushing). Adams had 99 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Benson had 105 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
It was a frustrating night offensively for the Cadets, with 40 rushing yards and 92 passing yards with two turnovers. IFA Head Coach Eric Walkingstick on areas the team needs to clean up.
“We continually play hard, but we just make a lot of mistakes here and there. It’s one where we gotta polish that and clean it up. We’ve seen it this summer, we didn’t make those mistakes. Some of the issue comes to this, we gotta have good leadership out there when things are kinda going a little bit south and we gotta have people talking,” says Walkingstick “I’m gonna give a lot of credit to South Hardin, they’re good team. We knew coming in that they were gonna be tough. You can’t make a lot of mistakes against a good team. We have got to come back, keep working and keep our faith. Self doubt can’t creep in and kind of wreck your thing whenever you’re getting it done.”
Karsen Kalous had 86 passing yards. Cade Olberding had 31 receiving yards and 28 rushing yards to lead the Cadets.
Iowa Falls-Alden (0-2) will host Hampton-Dumont-CAL in the Battle for Bradford. South Hardin (2-0) will host Hudson in Week 3.
