Blowouts

Offensive explosion carries ‘Cats to a big win

HARTINGTON - Homecoming distractions were, well, no distraction for Hartington-Newcastle on the gridiron Sept. 19 as the Wildcats turned away Niobrara/Veridgre 50-16 in an afternoon contest.

The ‘Cats started a little slow in the beginning, but once they got going they sprinted to a 28-8 lead at the half and it grew to 50-8 by the end of the third frame.

It took a little over a minute in the game for the Wildcats to get on the scoreboard, but once that happened, the teams knocked heads in the middle of the field until the second period.

Austin Sudbeck capped off a four-play, 53-yard drive with a 19-yard dash to the end zone after Jason Heimes carried the ball three times for 38 yards earlier in the march and with 10:43 left in the opening 12 minutes, HNS was up 6-0 after the extra point kick was blocked.

The Cougars would answer just four seconds into the second quarter, but Heimes took the ensuing kickoff back 70 yards to put the ‘Cats back in front 12-8.

Sudbeck would score the second of what would be five touchdowns on a 3-yard plunge with 7:51 left before the halftime break and after a Heimes conversion run, the lead was 20-8.

Lincoln Grutsch recovered a Niobrara/ Verdigre fumble to end the Cougars next drive and Heimes rambled in from just over 20 yards out on a fourth-and-two play at the 22 and with 4:32 left in the half, Hartington-Newcastle was up 28-8.

Sudbeck scored with 7:07 left in the third to make it 34-8, raced in from 55 yards out to make it 42-8 then scored from the 15 with 10 seconds remaining in the third and the ‘Cats were done scoring for the night as the continuous clock was set into motion by the 35-point rule.

The Cougars scored a cosmetic touchdown with 2:39 left in the contest which halted the continuous clock, but the damage was done and the Wildcats preserved the 50-16 victory.

Heimes and Sudbeck both eclipsed the 100yard mark as Heimes carried the ball 15 times for 148 yards and scored twice and Sudbeck carried the ball nine times for 129 yards and the five scores.

Ashton Wakeley had a big night defensively for HNS, getting in on 13 tackles including a couple of sacks and a tackle for a loss.

Kyptin Collier was in on a dozen tackles, Brayden Lammers recorded 11 stops including 1.5 stops behind the line and Ty Opfer had nine tackles and one tackle behind the line.

Carter Kelly had a sack and Cris Kneifl, Colton Cavanaugh and Grutsch each recovered a fumble.

The Wildcats are set to return to gridiron Sept. 26 when they will travel to Crofton to take on the Warriors.

The ‘Cats will take their 4-0 record to Crofton Friday.

N/V 0 8 0 8 - 16 HNS 6 22 22 0 - 50 FIRST QUARTER HNS: Austin Sudbeck 19 run, kick no good, 10:43. 6-0.

SECOND QUARTER N/V: Cash Wickersham 1 run, Isaac Hoeferer pass from Cash Wickersham, 11:55. 6-8.

HNS: Jason Heimes 70 kickoff return, run no good, 11:46. 12-8.

HNS: Austin Sudbeck 3 run, Jason Heimes run, 7:51. 20-8.

HNS: Jason Heimes 21 run, Austin Sudbeck run, 4:32. 28-8.

THIRD QUARTER HNS: Austin Sudbeck 23 run, run no good, 7:07. 34-8.

HNS: Austin Sudbeck 55 run, Jason Hemies run, 2:31. 42-8.

HNS: Austin Sudbeck 15 run, Ashton Wakeley run, 0:10. 50-8.

FOURTH QUARTER N/V: Coy Wickersham 1 run, Coy Wickersham run, 2:39. 50-16.

Hartington-Newcastle Passing Yards: 7-12 63 Hartington-Newcastle Rushing Yards: 31-281 Hartington-Newcastle Total Yards: 344 Passing: Kayne Gratzfeld 0-1; Austin Sudbeck 7-11 63.

Rushing: Keatyn Arens 1-(-1); Austin Sudbeck 9-129 5TD; Jason Heimes 15-148 1TD; Trevon Hopping 3-2; Ashton Wakeley 1-3.

Receiving: Keatyn Arens 1-5; Jason Heimes 1-10; Carter Kelly 2-15; Mason Krause 3-33.

Tackles: Ty Opfer 9 1TFL; Alyk Zach 1; Ketyn Arens 2; Jason Heimes 5; Carter Kelly 7 1SACK; Colton Campbell 1; Mason Krause 2; Brayden Lammers 11 1.5TFL; Aiden Walter 2; Trevon Hopping 3; Ashton Wakeley 13 1TFL 2SACK; Aidan Collier 3; Cody Cavanaugh 1; Kyptin Collier 12; Cris Kneifl 8 1FR; Colton Cavanaugh 2 .5TFL 1FR; Lincoln Grutsch 6 1FR.