Squirrels drive HWC nuts

Central Cass scored 29 points in the first quarter and 14 more in the second quarter to take an insurmountable 43-0 lead into halftime, and cruised to a 49-8 win over Harvey-Wells County in Casselton on Friday, October 13.

The Squirrels scored from both sides of the ball, as the offense put up five touchdowns and the defense scored two. The Central Cass defense has been outstanding all year, giving up 21 points in the opening game to Region 1 champion Kindred, and then only surrendering 13 more points in the next six games before allowing HWC eight. The six wins included four shutouts.

The Central Cass defense got things rolling right off the bat, picking off an HWC pass on the Hornets' second play. Isaac Wisnewski scored three plays later on a 6-yard run, and with a Carter Vrchota kick, the score was 7-0 with just 90 seconds gone.

The Squirrels' Peyton Lemar stepped in front of another HWC pass on the third play of the next drive, returning this one 30 yards for the score. With the PAT kick, Central Cass led 14-0 with just 3:05 off the clock.

After a Hornet three and out, quarterback Brayden Mitchell found Cole Holzer for a 16-yard score, moving the lead to 21-0. The Central Cass defense forced a Hornet fumble and rounded out the first quarter scoring on a 18-yard run from Wisnewski. The PAT pass from Vrchota to Cade Olson-Tinglestad made the score 29-0 after one.

The Squirrels continued to roll in the second, with Lemar adding his second pick six of the game for a 36-0 lead. A Mitchell to Coleson Stahl 72-yard pass play with 1:45 left in the half made the score 43-0 at the break.

Both teams came out with full second and third strings in the second half. The Squirrels continued their high flying game plan, as backup quarterback Brody Kegley found Cade Lindstrom for an 85-yard touchdown strike, moving the lead to 49-0. The Hornets found the endzone later in the third quarter, as Easton Schuh scored on a four-yard run, and then HWC quarterback Carter Laber found Schuh for the PAT, moving the score to 49-8 which was the eventual game-ending tally.

The Hornet offense struggled throughout the game, but found some success from its second string against the Squirrels' second string. Schuh had 16 yards rushing and one catch for another 34 yards to lead HWC offensively.

The defense had several players with three or more tackles, but was led by Keaton Keller with four. Kayl Sieg had two sacks and Tyler Swang had two tackles for loss for the Hornets, who dropped to 5-4 overall on the season. The win moved Central Cass to 8-1 overall.

The Hornets will be the #4 seed from their region and opened up the playoffs on the road against a very talented Kindred Viking squad at 1:30 in Kindred on Saturday, October 21.

Nonregion Class A Football

Central Cass 49, HWC 8

HWC 0 0 8 0 - 8

C. Cass 29 14 6 0 - 49

First Quarter

Central Cass: Isaac Wisnewski 6 yard run (Carter Vrchota kick)

Central Cass: Peyton Lemar 30 yard interception return (Vrchota kick)

Central Cass: Cole Holzer 16 yard pass from Brayden Mitchell (Vrchota kick)

Central Cass: Wisnewski 18 yard run (Cade Olson-Tingelstad pass from Vrchota)

Second Quarter

Central Cass: Lemar 50 yard interception return (Vrchota kick)

Central Cass: Coleson Stahl 72 yard pass from Mitchell (Vrchota kick)

Third Quarter

Central Cass: Cade Lindstrom 85 yard pass from Brody Kegley (run failed)

HWC: Easton Schuh 4 yard run (Schuh pass from Carter Laber)

HWC Statistics

Offense

Passing: Laber 6-14-68-INT; Tallen Thorson 2-5-6-2 INT

Rushing: Christian Mertz 4-17; Schuh 13-16-TD; Grant Anderson 2-8; Kayl Sieg 5-3; Jaxon Feist 1-0

Receiving: Schuh 1-34; Rylend Whetzel 1-11; Feist 3-8; Keaton Keller 1-8

Defense

Tackles (assisted/unassisted): Keller (2-2); Sieg (1-2); Alex Smith (0-3); Tyler Swang (1-2); Mertz (1-1); Jadyn Vollmer (1-1); Anderson (1-0); Collin Meckle (1-0); Thorson (0-1); Feist (0-1); Manning Buchmiller (1-0); Boston Fike (0-1)

Tackles for Loss: Swang 2

Sacks: Sieg 2, Meckle

Fumble Recovery: Mertz

Blocked Punt: Swang