The #5(1A) South Hardin football team rallied with a 15 point fourth quarter to win 27-20 over Emmetsburg in 1A second round on Friday to advance to quarterfinals.
After the first quarter the game was tied at 6-6, the Tigers scored on a 31 yard touchdown reception by Traven Wheeler. Emmetsburg took a slight advantage at 13-12 at the half, the Tigers found the endzone in the quarter on a 11 yard touchdown reception by Sam Benson. The E-Hawks scored the only touchdown of the third quarter on a kickoff return to go 20-12 heading to the fourth. In the fourth, the Tigers held the E-Hawks scoreless and offensively tied the game at 20-20 on a two yard touchdown carry by Jaxon Drury and scored the go ahead touchdown on a 45 yard pick six by Sam Benson with 1:46 left in the game to survive and advance.
South Hardin Head Coach Nick Eller on what sparked the Tigers second half comeback.
“It was more of a rally of the troops, let’s clean up and play how we can play. The guys did, they kept fighting, they kept chipping,” says Eller. “Defensive adjustments worked because we didn’t give them a defensive touchdown during the second half, just on a kick return was all that we gave up. Really proud of the whole staff, coaches, players, you name it, team effort completely all the way around.”
Peyton Welch was 15/27 with 210 passing yards and two touchdowns, Sam Benson had seven receptions for 124 yards and two touchdowns (one receiving and a pick six). Lucas Perry led the Tigers defense with eight tackles and an interception.
South Hardin (9-1) will travel to #2(1A) Dike-New Hartford in state quarterfinals on Friday, a game that will air on 104.9 KLMJ.
