HLV gets a win in Bussey

BUSSEY — After losing its first six games, including two blown opportunities in the last three weeks, HLV’s football team is finally in the win column, beating Twin Cedars, 43-22, last Friday night at Bussey.

A big fourth quarter was the difference for the Warriors, who shut out the Sabers 22-0 over the last 12 minutes to erase a 22-21 deficit.

Bryer Jack’s 20-yard touchdown pass to Cael Weisskopf to begin the fourth quarter put HLV ahead, 27-22, and back-to-back touchdown runs of 46 and 2 yards by Max Henstorf, coupled with a pair of two-point conversions by Weisskopf, sealed Twin Cedars’ fate.

“It’s good to see smiles on faces again,” said HLV coach Kevin Smith. “We fought through some of the same mistakes in the first half that had hurt us the previous weeks and decided to flip the competitive switch in the second half, playing really well in the last quarter.”

Defenses dominated the first half. HLV took a 7-0 lead into intermission on a one-yard touchdown run by Weisskopf and Henstorf’s point-after kick.

A 23-yard touchdown pass from Henstorf to Carter Scholtus to start the second half made it 13-0 Warriors, but the Sabers weren’t going to go away that easily.

Back-to-back touchdowns by Holden Roberts on a 12-yard pass reception and 43-yard punt return put Twin Cedars ahead, 16-13.

Weisskopf regained the lead for HLV 21-16 on his second one-yard touchdown run of the night and two-point conversion.

Roberts then capped a wild third period with a 47-yard touchdown reception, putting the Sabers back on top, 22-21. The Warriors would rule from there.

“We had kids make plays that we knew they were capable of,” Smith said. “More importantly, they gained the confidence and the realization that they could do it.”

HLV had its way running the football against Twin Cedars with both Henstorf — 19 carries for 135 yards — and Weisskopf — 21 rushes for 106 yards — exceeding the century mark.

The Sabers, on the other hand, didn’t have any ground game at all with 22 plays resulting in a negative 15 yards. Devon Weisskopf led the Warriors’ defense with 8 1/2 tackles, four of those solos.

Tyler Ballard added five tackles and a fumble recovery.

Twin Cedars did have some success throwing the football, totaling 230 yards on 13 completions and the two TD receptions by Roberts. HLV passed for 77 yards — 44 by Jack and 33 by Henstorf, with one TD apiece.

HLV, 1-6 overall and 0-3 in the district, will host Iowa Valley (4-2, 2-2) this Friday and, the following week, Oct. 13, travels to Winfield-Mount Union (6-0) to wrap-up the 2023 season.

Tiger, Plainsmen, Bears

In other local 8-man games Friday, Belle Plaine got beat at home by Montezuma, 62-32, and English Valleys and Iowa Valley lost their homecoming games. The Bears fell 46-0 to Colo-Nesco, and the Tigers tumbled 76-14 to Winfield-Mount Union.

Iowa Valley was the victim of a quick-strike offense by the Wolves, who, on 11 first-half plays, scored seven touchdowns and led at the break, 46-8.

Ranked No. 1 or 2 in the state depending on which poll you go by — IAHSAA or CR Gazette — W-MU rushed for 358 yards against the Tigers, averaging 17.9 yard per play.

University of Iowa commit Cam Buffington had his No. 33 called just seven times but gained 218 yards and scored two touchdowns.

Buffington’s backfield teammate, Cole Milks, picked up 90 yards on nine touches and found the end zone three times. Eli Miller had one carry for 65 yards and a score.

Wolves quarterback Jake Edwards was 6-for-7 passing for 95 yards and four TDs — two to Carter Loyd and one each to Abram Edwards and Max Edwards.

Loyd made a spectacular catch late in the second period when he brought down the ball one-handed for a TD with an Iowa Valley defender draped all over him.

Iowa Valley also moved the ball well at times, totaling 299 yards, but could punch it into the end zone just twice.

Ian Smith caught a three-yard touchdown pass from Nolan Kriegel on fourth-and-goal in the second period, and Owen Bral scored on a 10-yard run late in the game.

The loss snapped a two-game winning streak for the Tigers, leaving them 4-2 overall and 2-2 in the district heading into this Friday’s game at Victor against HLV (1-6, 0-3).

W-MU stayed unbeaten at 6-0 and clinched no worse than a share of the Class 8 District 6 title.

The Plainsmen simply didn’t have an answer for Braves’ sophomore quarterback Brady Boulton, who had a part in six of Montezuma’s eight touchdowns.

Boulton rushed 18 times for 175 yards and three touchdowns, and completed 12-of-17 passes for 134 yards and three more TDs — one each to Garrett Watts, Brett Plants and Cruz DeJong.

Montezuma led 16-6 after one quarter, 30-18 at halftime and 46-32 through three periods.

Lane Vokoun had 152 yards rushing on 14 carries and scored three touchdowns to lead BP. Ty Alcott gained 94 yards on 22 attempts.

The Plainsmen are now 3-3 overall and 2-2 in the district with a road trip this Friday to Twin Cedars. Belle Plaine ends the regular season Oct. 13 at Iowa Valley.

English Valleys was no match for Colo-Nesco, who dared the Bears to stop their running attack and proceeded to gain over 300 yards. Halftime score was 38-0.

It was EV’s third straight loss, dropping their record to 2-4 overall and 1-2 in the district. The Bears travel to Wayland this week to face top 10 ranked WACO, and they play at home Oct. 13 against New London.

No individual or team statistics were available for EV by press deadline.