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AINSWORTH — A big final 12 minutes put Wildcat fans at ease, blowing open a 29-20 game to a 49-26 game with Ainsworth at the end by scoring three fourth-quarter touchdowns.
In fact, the Bulldogs led 1413 early in the second period and the fourth frame was full of plenty of heroics from both benches.
Jason Heimes, who rushed for 239 yards on the night, and scored the third of his five touchdowns to open the fourth on a 2-yard plunge into the end zone. After the conversion was no good, Hartington-Newcastle was up, 35-20.
Unfortunately, Chris Fernandez, Ainsworth’s “Mr. Do Everything” quarterback grabbed the ensuing kick off and sprinted 71 yards the other way to put the Bulldogs right back in the game.
Sudbeck and Heimes used a minute and 21 seconds to answer.
The duo hooked up on a 41-yard aerial from Sudbeck to Heimes, who added 69 yards through the air to his 239-yard night on the ground, and then Sudbeck hit Carter Kelly for the 2-point conversion and the ‘Cats were breathing a little easier, up 43-26 with 8:05 left in the game.
After the HNS defense got the ball back, Heimes took care of any doubt, sprinting 50 yards to pay dirt to get to the 49-26 final score with 2:30 left on the clock.
Earlier in the game, Sudbeck scored twice in the first quarter, once from the five and on a 1-yard dive sandwiched around a Fernandez score for the red team and the first quarter ended with the Wildcats in front, 13-6.
Ainsworth took the lead early in the second on a 33yard pass from Fernandez to Jacob Ortner.
That’s when Heimes warmed up and scored his first touchdown of the night from nine yards out and the teams went to the break with the ‘Cats in front, 21-14.
Heimes would score again to open the third, but a Ferandez pass brought the Bulldogs back to within 29-20 setting up the fourth-quarter fireworks.
Sudbeck had a productive night through the air, completing 7-of-14 passes for 192 yards and a score, he also ran for another 77 yards on the ground with a pair of touchdowns on his 17 carries.
Heimes finished with the 239 on the ground and the 69 receiving and the five touchdowns.
Carter Kelly caught three passes for 91 yards.
Defensively, Kelly had 13 tackles, three sacks and a tackle for a loss while Ty Opfer and Keatyn Arens each had a dozen tackles and each had a tackle for loss.
Hartington-Newcastle will host its home opener Sept. 5 when the ‘Cats welcome Wakefield to town.
The Trojans lost their opening game to Wausa/Osmond 62-14 in a game played in Wakefield.
HNS 13 8 8 20 - 49 AIN 6 8 6 6 - 26 FIRST QUARTER HNS: Austin Sudbeck 5 run, Kayne Gratzfeld kick, 5:25. 7-0.
AINS: Chris Fernandez 35 run, conversion no good, 2:36. 7-6 HNS: Austin Sudbeck 1 run, conversion no good, 0:08. 13-6 SECOND QUARTER AINS: Jacob Ortner 33 pass from C.
Fernandez, Kyle Fernandez pass from Easton McMillan, 9:43. 13-14.
HNS: Jason Heimes 9 run, Heimes run, 8:45. 21-14.
THIRD QUARTER HNS: Heimes 3 run, Ashton Wakeley pass from Sudbeck, 9:48. 29-14.
AINS: Sam Titus 16 pass from C.
Fernandez, conversion no good, 0:41.
29-20.
FOURTH QUARTER HNS: Heimes 2 run, conversion no good, 9:48. 35-20.
AINS: C. Fernandez 71 kickoff return, conversion no good, 9:36. 35-26.
HNS: Heimes 41 pass from Sudbeck, Carter Kelly pass from Sudbeck, 8:05.
43-26.
HNS: Heimes 50 run, kick no good, 2:30.
49-26.
HNS Passing Yards: 7-14 192 1TD HNS Rushing Yards: 44-317 TOTAL: 509 Hartington Newcastle Individual Passing: Austin Sudbeck 7-14 192 1TD.
Hartington-Newcastle Individual Rushing: Ty Opfer 1-11; Austin Sudbeck 17-77 2TD; Jason Heimes 25-229 4TD; Ashton Wakeley 1-0.
Hartington-Newcastle Individual Receiving Yards: Jason Heimes 2-69 1TD; Carter Kelly 3-91; Mason Krause 1-29; Ashton Wakeley 1-3.
Hartington-Newcastle Individual Tackles: Scout Heimes 1; Ty Opfer 12 1TFL; Kayne Gratzfeld 3; Keatyn Arens 12 1TFL; Jason Heimes 6; Axel Sudbeck 1; Colter Feilmeier 3; Carter Kelly 13 1TFL 3SACK; Mason Krause 7; Brayden Lammers 6; Trevon Hopping 3; Ashton Wakeley 9 .5TFL 1SACK; Logan Kneifl 1; Aidan Collier 7; Cody Cavanaugh 2; Kyptin Collier 5 .5SACK; Cris Kneifl 6 1SACK; Colton Cavanaugh 1; Lincoln Grutsch 1.
