LCC cruises past the HNS Wildcats

LAUREL — After an emotional comeback win a week ago, the Hartington-Newcastle Wildcats came into last week’s game at Laurel-Concord-Coleridge with some high hopes.

However, the state-ranked host Bears found a way to take early control and cruise to a 44-13 win.

Hartington-Newcastle (2-3) fell behind 30-0 after the first half and coul not make up the margin.

The Cats came out early and took six minutes off of the clock with a nice, sustained drive, running the ball right at the heart of the Bear defense.

“Unfortunately, we were not able to muster a big play or a scoring play to build a little momentum,” HNS head coach Corey Uldrich said. “I thought we played very well defensively but gave up some very untimely fourth down conversions to LCC.”

Defensively, Lane Heimes had 14 tackles, Kale Korth added 13 tackles, Seth Pinkelman added 12 tackles and Carson Sudbeck and Riley Sudbeck both had 10 tackles.

“At times we struggled tackling their running back, but I really thought we made them work for their yards,” Uldrich said.

Riley Sudbeck had 75 yards passing and 49 rushing, while Lane Heimes had 15 carries and 61 yards and Kale Korth and Carson Sudbeck each scored on touchdown runs.

Heimes said LCC was a big team that overpowered the Wildcats.

“They are a good team and I am not making excuses,” Heimes said. “We knew it was going to be a tough game and we wanted to prove people wrong by taking down the No. 8 team in the state and that big of a team. They had 10 more guys than us on their roster and they were just a big, tough school, you know?

“Last week (beating Plainview), that was really fun. As a team and what we are thinking now, we just got to keep our heads up. We aren’t going to blow teams a way just like that. We have to keep improving. It was a tough loss.”

Heimes thought the momentum from the Plainview win was cresting enough that the Bears were coming during the Wildcats “turning point of the season,” but the loss hasn’t knocked their confidence down as three games remain.

“We knew they were going to make plays and (RB) Evan Haisch is a great player,” Heimes said. “We knew they were going to be good, but we had high hopes and were pumped up to play. It just didn’t turn out in our favor.

“We are still determined and fighting. To lose a game like that, it’s hard to come back, but I know our guys and we have good coaches who are doing what they can to help us improve. We have to play hard every single play and you can’t take any off or we aren’t going to get anywhere. We just need to get more player-led I guess. The coaches are doing a great job, we just have to get that leadership and our older guys are doing our best, but we can always do better. It’s a culture thing we have to get a hard-working, hard hitting team.”

The Wildcats will try to bounce back against visiting Lutheran High Northeast this week for Homecoming as another stateranked team will offer a test for Uldrich and his squad.

“They are a team who prides themselves on a power running game that mixes in some home run balls thrown in the air,” Uldrich said. “We will be tested in all facets again, but these are exactly the kinds of games we want to play in.”

PASSING - HNS - Riley Sudbeck, 4-9-75. LCC - Evan Schmitt, 6-9-57.

RUSHING: HNS - Lane Heimes, 15-61; Riley Sudbeck, 18-49; Kale Korth, 3-7; Kale Korth, 3-42; Jake Peitz, 1-1; Carson Sudbeck, 3- -6. LCC - Evan Haisch, 28-180; Evan Schmitt, 7-72; Caleb Erwin, 3-41; Sutton Ehlers, 6-22; Eli Haisch, 1-5; Blake Urwiler, 2-4; Dan Puppe, 1-3.

RECEIVING - HNS - Jake Peitz, 1-40; Carson Sudbeck, 1-20; Shay Dickes, 1-9; Lane Heimes, 1-6. LCC - Deagan Puppe, 4-41; Jake Rath, 1-16; Sutton Ehlers, 1-3; Evan Haisch, 1-0.

TACKLES HNS - Lane Heimes, 14; Kale Korth, 13; Seth Pinkelman, 12; Riley Sudbeck, 10; Carson Sudbeck, 10; Reece Morten, 8; Daniel Steffen, 4; Aiden Rosener,3; Shay Dickes, 3; Jake Peitz, 2; Kamden Hoesing, 2; Carson Jones, 1; Dayton Sudbeck, 1; Cole Heimes, 1; Parker Steffen, 1. LCC - Evan Haisch, 9; Kolby Casey, 6; Sutton Ehlers, 5; Jake Rath, 5; Lucas Rasmussen, 4; Wilton Roberts, 3; Gibson Roberts, 3; Deagan Puppe, 3; Dillon Taylor, 2; Andrew Sohler, 2; Conner Kvols, 1; Landon Leaonard, 1; Daniel Puppe, 1; Grant Erwin, 1; Eli Haisch, 1.

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