For the first time in program history, the South Hardin football team will play in a semifinal in the UNI-Dome. They defeated #5 (1A) Treynor 27-14 in a 1A quarterfinal Friday, as aired on 104.9 KLMJ.
The teams went back-and-forth in the first half. Aided by an interception on the second play of the game, South Hardin got on the board with rushing scores by Peyton Welch and Kameron Adams in the first half. In between, Treynor scored on a short rush, and it was 12-7 at halftime with two failed PATs. Capping off a clock-chewing drive to start the third quarter, Welch took in his second score of the game. But Treynor responded on a 60-yard run by Jett Sornson to get back within a score. On a potential go-ahead drive late in the fourth quarter, Treynor fumbled in plus territory, and a long return set up a chance for Sam Benson to haul in a touchdown pass with less than a minute left to close it out.
“It hasn’t really hit me yet, just because the game was so crazy, I haven’t still haven’t come down from that spot of it yet,” Head Coach Nick Eller says “But just could not be prouder of our team and our program and our coaching staff, just all the work they put in to get to this spot. And this is a program win, because this is years in the making from guys that I started with building to this spot. So huge shout out to everyone that’s been in this program, because this is what that was tonight. Just a culmination of all the years we put in to get to here. And it finally paid off. So it’s really just a humbling moment, to be honest with you. Just all the work paying off to get to here, and so proud of the guys.”
The Tigers defense forced five turnovers by the Cardinals (three fumbles and two INTs), which the Tigers offense capitalized on with 13 points.
Welch had 74 yards rushing, 53 yards passing and three touchdowns (two rushing and one passing). Kameron Adams had 117 rushing yards and a touchdown. Benson added a touchdown for the Tigers.
They’ll take on #1 (1A) West Lyon in a 1A semifinal on Friday, November 14 at 1:00 p.m. on 99 The Wave.
Nick Eller interview:
