Wildcats roll to easy win

WALTHLL — The Hartington Wildcats are off to their best start since 1995.
Hartington improved its season record to 4-0 with a 63-14 pasting of Walthill Friday.
Hartington’s offense took off early and the Wildcats never looked back as the Cats scored on the third play of the game, the fourth play, and the sixth play.
“Walthill was unable to stop us. It was not the kind of game we needed with state-rated Bancroft-Rosalie coming to town next week,” said Coach Tim Manzer.
Coach Manzer was pleased he was able to get a lot of players into the game Friday, though.

“Everyone saw a little action Friday night,” he said.
The Wildcats went into halftime with a 41-6 lead over Walthill.
The largest offensive play for the ‘Cats was staged by senior quarterback Zach Marsh, who had a 50-yard run for a touchdown early in the second half. Running back Austin Driver also had a big run for a touchdown going 38 yards to the endzone.
The Cats also scored in the first quarter when Zach Marsh found an open Nathan Fischer and hit him for a 25-yard TD strike.
Blake Gothier intercepted a pass and returned it 31 yards for another Wildcat score.
Colten Benson went 15 yards for a score and Mason Miller wound up the first quarter scoring with a 27-yard run to give HPS a 34-0 early lead.
In the second quarter Mason Miller threw a 30-yard pass to Caleb Lammers and Miles Metheny kicked his fifth extra point of the game.
In the third quarter, Zach Marsh had his 50-yard run. Colten Benson also had a five-yard run. Methany added both kicks. He was 7-8 in extra point attempts for the game.
Metheny got in on the scoring again when he blocked a punt for a safety.
In the fourth quarter, Josh Heikes rounded out Hartington’s scoring with a five-yard run for a touchdown.
Manzer said his team ran the ball well, but a lot of that credit needs to go to his offensive line.
“Again, the often-overlooked offensive line blocked very well, ripping gaping holes in the defense,” Manzer said.
“Overall I thought we played well, but really don’t have anything to gauge that by,” he said. “The real plus was that we got to play a lot of kids very early, we only have two or three kids that need one more quarter before they letter.”
The Wildcats host state-rated Bancroft-Rosalie at Russ Hochstein Field Friday.
Hartington 34 7 16 6 — 63
Walthill 0 6 0 8 — 14

RUSHING
Hartington – Austin Driver, 3-77; Zach Marsh, 2-64; Josh Heikes, 7-56; Mason Miller, 1-27; Colten Benson, 4-21; Chad Miller, 3-11; Matt Thoene, 3-8; Cody Fischer, 2-8.
Passing
Hartington – Zach Marsh, 1-2- 25, 1 TD; Mason Miller, 1-4-25.

TACKLES
Hartington – Mark Thoene, 12; Blake Gothier, 9; Ross Eickhoff, 7; Caleb Lammers, 6; Colten Benson, 6; Miles Metheny, 5; Thomas Schumacher, 5; Nathan Fischer, 5; Nathan McPhillips, 5; Josh Heikes, 4; JT Harrold, 3; Tyler Meirose, 2; Aaron Newton, 2; Hunter Thornburg, 2; Zach Marsh, 1; Matt Thoene, 1; Mason Miller, 1; David Burbach, 1; Travis Wortmann, 1.

Caleb Lammers, 1-14; Austin Driver, 1-14; Colten Benson, 1-6. Coleridge – Alex Brodersen, 2-87; Tyler Hefner, 4-72, 1 TD; Brandon Webb, 1-7.

TACKLES
Hartington – Nathan Fischer, 14; Ross Eickhoff, 13; Caleb Lammers, 10; Colten Benson, 10; Austin Driver, 10; Aaron Newton, 9; Miles Methaney, 9; Zach March, 3; Brandon Pedersen, 2. Coleridge – Shayne Rose, 10; Jamie Huss, 7; Tanner Anderson, 5; Alex Brodersen, 4; Tyler Hefner, 4; Craig Colwell, 3;