With identical district records, #4 (1A) South Hardin will host Clarion-Goldfield-Dows in a 1A District 3 matchup Friday.
The Tigers (5-1, 2-1 1A-3) will look to bounce back from their first loss, 21-12 at #2 (1A) Grundy Center last week. Head Coach Nick Eller hopes the team can rebound from a night where two turnovers were difference makers against a run-heavy system.
“It’s definitely going to be a physical matchup, different style of play than Grundy where they’re going to be double tight, a lot of running back, a lot of wing back, a lot of full back, here it is, quarterback runs, you name it,” Eller says. “They’ll mix some passes in there if you’re starting to cheat up too much. But otherwise, definitely a different style. We’ve got to be ready for a physical game, straight ahead running football. Then I just wanna try and get back to more consistency with our offense and just get to where we feel like we’re clicking on all cylinders for an entire game.”
It was just the second game this season that all-state wide receiver Sam Benson was held to less than 100 receiving yards. He has 621 for the season.
Clarion-Goldfield-Dows (4-2, 2-1 1A-3) would clinch a playoff spot with a win. They’re coming off last week’s 34-16 win over Eagle Grove, where they had to bounce back from a first half deficit. Playing their second ranked team in three weeks, Head Coach Caleb Vogel says his team knows what it’ll take to contend.
“It’s going be a battle from start to finish,” Vogel says. “They’re a talented group. They’re going to sling the ball. It’s going to be a game that’s going to come down to the game of inches. And we have to be able to capitalize on those things. We have to be perfect in every aspect of the game and just play our football and just go out there and have fun. Yes, they’re ranked in the top five. They’re hungry, but so are we.”
The programs in their current form have never met, but Eldora and Clarion split meetings in 1915 and 1916. The kickoff will be at 7:00 p.m.
