Cyclones take down old nemesis

HARLAN (Nov. 4) -- If this was indeed the final game played on Merrill Fields real grass, Harlan Community picked a memorable win to send out the sod.

Avenging their last two gridiron defeats in one fell swoop, the 5th-ranked Cyclones never trailed in Monday nights Class 3-A, second-round playoff game and held off Carrolls fourth-quarter charge to beat the 8th-ranked Tigers, 21-18.

HCHS (10-1) converted two crucial third-and-two downs in running out the final 3:53, allowing quarterback Adam Juhl to take a knee at midfield and cap the programs 90th all-time playoff victory.

This one was extra special for 20 Cyclone seniors, who have taken their share of lumps vs. Carroll going all the way back to youth football games in fifth grade. The Tigers (8-3) handed HCHS its only loss this season and last year ended the Cyclones incredible run of 33 first-round playoff games without a loss.

I never thought of it that way, but yeah, it is [memorable], said HCHS head coach Curt Bladt. Thats the first time that (our) senior group - as a group - have ever beaten (Carroll), and most of the time they got their clocks cleaned so it was very satisfying, Im sure, for them to get the win.

Several Cyclone seniors did participate in last years regular-season win at Carroll, as well as a JV win in 2011, but this is the first time they have all been together on the same squad for a victory over the Tigers.

We all just agreed that it was time to put our foot down, said senior tailback Nate Gettys, who rushed for 122 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries. This is the last time were ever going to play them so we all just said, Lets go all out and get the job done, and we did.

Its kind of just a weight lifted off our shoulders.

Senior Nate Cave, a two-way starter who logged 15 tackles, agreed that Mondays playoff win makes up for some of the previous losses to Carroll. Theyve been beating up on us since little league, he said, and to get the win when it really matters - it means the world to the whole team.

This was really good for us. We needed it.

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Cyclones take down old nemesis