The #2 (1A) Dike-New Hartford football team is heading back to the UNI-Dome for the first time since 2021. They defeated #5 (1A) South Hardin 36-19 in a 1A quarterfinal Friday at Gunderson Sports Complex, as aired on 104.9 KLMJ.
After a scoreless first quarter, DNH got on the board with a five-yard touchdown run by Noah Borcherding, which was answered on the next possession when South Hardin’s Jaxson Drury plunged in from one yard out to tie the game at 7-7. The Wolverines got the ball late in the half, and Keegan Bolhuis tacked on a 28-yard field goal as the clock expired for a 10-7 halftime lead.
DNH got the ball first to start the second half, and went ahead by two possessions when Colin Meester found Carson Costello for a 12-yard touchdown to begin the third quarter. Tyler Bakken recorded an interception, which was immediately followed by the longest play of the game.
Borcherding touchdown highlight:
In the following possessions, interceptions by Devon Lotts and Tyson Bennett also led to Borcherding touchdown runs. South Hardin scored late touchdowns on a short run by Peyton Welch and an eight-yard pass to Sam Benson, which was set up by a recovered onside kick. The Wolverines recovered a second onside kick attempt and ran out the clock.
“Our kids had this as a goal, our seniors had this as a goal since day one,” DNH coach Don Betts says. “Their goal was to get back to dome, they had been there as freshmen, and had not been on the field but had been there as part of our run in 2021. They wanted an opportunity to get on the field to actually play. So I’m extremely happy for our seniors. It’s just been a wonderful ride for them, and hopefully we’re not done yet.”
South Hardin coach Nick Eller says some mistakes led to having to try to force some big plays.
“We had some miscues, and we knew we couldn’t do that,” Eller says. “The ball didn’t bounce our way on the one tipped ball, it was right to a guy, you know. Those balls have got to bounce your way sometimes. And then a couple of picks that we threw was trying to kind of get back in the game. They made some nice plays, complete hats off to Dike-New Hartford. I thought they played a really good game, very physical. We knew it would be that. We matched that most of the time. And when you didn’t, they made you pay. So just a good game by them too.”
South Hardin was held to 64 rushing yards. Welch was 7/22 passing for 195 yards. Benson had five receptions for 131 yards.
Borcherding finished with 33 carries for 279 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Wolverines, his second straight four-touchdown game.
South Hardin ends its season at 9-2. Dike-New Hartford (10-1) will take on #3 (1A) Hinton in a semifinal on Friday, November 15 at 1:00 p.m. on 99 The Wave.
Don Betts interview:
Nick Eller interview:
