After a tough loss at the hands of the Carroll Tigers last week, ADM football was searching for their second district win in 2016 at home last night taking on the Harlan Cyclones.
The game overall last night ran along the lines of the old saying “playing up to your competition” as ADM went toe to toe with a Harlan Cyclone squad true to their history putting up another big scoring night. To call it a shoot out would be an understatement as when the dust settled, the scoreboard read 34-58, with ADM on the unfortunate side of the loss.
Despite the offensive juggernaut of Harlan and ADM’s inability to start off with the lead, it was in fact the Tigers that would kick off the action scoring on a 23 yard pass from quarterback Sam McCartney to Gage Fuller for the first score and lead of the game 6-0 with 11:32 seconds left in quarter number one. It would take a total of six minutes for the explosive Harlan offense to answer right back in true Harlan form scoring two touchdowns in that time frame. Their first score came off a 74 yard pitch and catch from quarterback Deren Schmitz to junior back Nick Foss with 8:33 left in the first quarter while Harlan’s second score came on a similar big play as Schmitz connected on a 66 yard dart to leading receiver Caleb Rasmussen to increase their lead 13-6 with 5:25 left in quarter number one.
ADM would flex their muscles on the special teams side of the ball in the second quarter scoring on a rare punt block turn touchdown thanks to the great work of senior Logan Shield who blocked the punt near Harlan’s 6 yard line so that Nick Lindgren could pick it up for the score evening up the game at 13-13 11:46 left in the half. The back and fourth nature of Harlan rubbed off on ADM as it took just over four minutes for the lead to change three times within that time span. Another long pass completion for a touchdown for Foss’s second score of the night was followed by a quick 5 play drive for ADM capped off by a 33 yard scamper from Nick Lindgren for the score. That in turn was one upped by Harlan as the Cyclones marched back down the field with good field position to knock in a field goal before the half to lead the Tigers 23-20 heading into the third quarter.
The injuries really took their toll on the Tigers as ADM became worn down in the second half. Harlan opened even more offensive floodgates scoring 4 touchdowns in the third quarter alone beginning with an opening 99 yard kick off return for a touchdown by Dillion Sears, followed by a Nick Foss 14 yard rushing touchdown, a Caleb Rasmussen 17 yard touchdown reception, and a Deren Schmitz 1 yard touchdown run. ADM would hold strong despite the Cyclone offensive onslaught scoring at the 10:19 mark for the second passing score between the tad-um of Sam McCartney and Gage Fuller. Both teams would earn one more score in the final fourth quarter but for ADM, not enough for the win earning the 58-34 loss.
A solid night from quarterback Sam McCartney taking to the air 23 times for 13 completions, 296 passing yards, and 3 touchdowns. Nick Lindgren had a breakout game carrying the ball 11 times for 78 yards and a touchdown. With Gavin O’Steen out for the Tigers Austin Flora stepped up and led the way offensively capturing 6 receptions for 179 yards. With the loss ADM will now fall to 1-4 overall with a now 1-2 district record. ADM will look for a bounce-back win next week as they take to the road once again squaring off against Denison-Schleswig. Catch that match up on K107.9FM beginning with pregame at 7:00 and kickoff at 7:30.