The #2 (1A) Dike-New Hartford football team used methodical drives and held off a late comeback to defeat #3 (1A) Hinton 24-18 in Friday’s 1A semifinal, as aired on 99 The Wave.
The Wolverines didn’t bust off many long runs, but controlled the tempo. They opened with a 16-play, 81-yard drive that ended with a short run by Colin Meester for a 7-0 lead. They went up two scores with a short catch by Jack Hoehns on the next drive.
Hoehns touchdown highlight:
Hinton added a touchdown before the half, and the pace of the game slowed due to many changes of possession, including an interception by Tyler Bakken that was answered with one by Hinton on the next play. Keegan Bolhuis kicked a 23-yard field goal and Tyson Bennett ripped off a 49-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Hinton marched down the field and scored with 1:29 left, recovered an onside kick, and added another touchdown with :47 left. But the ball didn’t travel 10 yards on the next onside kick, and the Wolverines kneeled out the clock.
Head Coach Don Betts says it was a defensive battle.
“Defensively is where we’ve hung our hat all year long, and we wanted to take away the running game and I thought we did,” Betts says. “We took away the running game, made them throw the ball. We just didn’t make the plays we needed to on the back end all the time. We made enough to win and that’s what’s important.”
Betts looks forward to one more week with the team and the opportunity to compete for a championship.
“The one thing that I am most excited about is that I get another week with my guys, especially with my seniors. I love my seniors. They’ve put in a lot of time and effort. Playing next week means that I get to have one more week. That’s personally for me the most important thing. And then there’s that little thing of a state title too on the line.”
Noah Borcherding had 36 carries for 119 yards. Meester was 7-9 passing for 97 yards, and Bakken led defensively with five tackles.
The Wolverines (11-1) have advanced to the 1A championship game, where they’ll take on #1 (1A) Grundy Center on Thursday, November 21 at 4:00 p.m. inside the UNI-Dome on 99 The Wave. It’ll be the program’s first appearance in a title game since 2018.
