Complete effort lifts HWC over Rugby, 38-14

One play does not make a game.

The Hornet defense literally had one play all game that they could look back on with question, but that one play motivated the defense to step it up a notch in a 38-14 season opening win over the Rugby Panthers in Harvey on Friday, August 18.

The Panthers' Tucker Volk opened the first offensive series of the season for Rugby with a quarterback draw that went up the middle and around the right edge for a 53-yard score. An Austin Schneibel PAT run made the score 8-0 for Rugby, as the Hornet fans were a little stunned by the play and the Panther defensive effort on the first Hornet series.

How would HWC respond? The response might set a tone for not only the rest of the game, but possibly the season. The Hornets responded like all good teams do, as Carson Heilman's return to the 49- yard line started HWC's second offensive series. The Hornets overcame a fumble and two penalties during the drive, but a Tallen Thorson 24-yard pass to Keaton Keller sealed the deal as the Hornets trailed 8-6 with 4:02 left in the opening quarter.

The Hornet special teams shined on the kickoff, forcing a fumble as Easton Schuh made the recovery and HWC took over from the Rugby 41. A 40-yard screen pass to Kayl Sieg highlighted the drive, but two sacks by the Panther defense deep in their territory forced a turnover on downs.

HWC's second scoring drive of the game happened early in the second quarter, as the Hornets moved the ball through the air and on the ground scoring on seven plays covering 37 yards. The connection between Thorson and Keller was good again from 18 yards out, and the Hornets had their first lead of the season at 12-8.

The Hornet defense made their own luck on the next Panther drive. A 19-yard scoring pass from Rugby was negated by a false start penalty, and the result of the next play was an interception by Thorson in the corner of the endzone.

The interception proved to be a huge play, as HWC moved the ball 80 yards in the next 1:41 and scored on a five-yard run from Sieg with just under one second remaining in the half to move the halftime score to 18-6.

The third quarter was all Hornets. The offensive line started to open up some more holes for Sieg, and the running game started to click. Sieg scored his second touchdown of the night on an 11-yard run at the 9:18 mark, moving the scoreboard to 24-8.

Jaxon Feist hauled in a 13-yard scoring toss from Thorson just one play after a holding call negated a three-yard score to Feist, moving the score to 30-8. The final scoring for HWC was a big run from Sieg covering 53 yards, as the Hornets used just two plays in the series. The Hornets made their first PAT of the night, as Thorson ran the ball around the right edge for a 38-8 lead.

Rugby would get a final score at the 4:13 mark of the final quarter as Volk would connect with Taytum Risovi from 28 yards. The PAT pass failed, and the night was done with HWC collecting the 38-14 win and moving to 1-0 in Class A Region 2 Football.

Several players had outstanding games for HWC, and included Keaton Keller with eight tackles and 116 yards receiving on seven catches, of which two went for scores. Sieg had seven tackles to go along with 104 yards rushing and 38 receiving, and tallied three scores on the night.

Thorson had a great game from his quarterback position hitting 15-of-17 passing for 244 yards, and also collected that touchdown-saving interception. Thorson threw for three scores and ran for the lone HWC PAT.

Feist had a nice night at wide receiver, making four catches with one going for a score. The defensive unit had a nice night with four tackles for loss, one fumble recovery, one sack and one interception.

Class 11B Region 2 Football

HWC 38, Rugby 14

Rugby 8 0 0 6 - 14

HWC 6 12 20 0 - 38

First Quarter

Rugby: Tucker Volk 53 yard run (Austin Schneibel run)

HWC: Keaton Keller 24 yard pass from Tallen Thorson (run failed)

Second Quarter

HWC: K. Keller 18 yard pass from Thorson (run failed)

HWC: Kayl Sieg 5 yard run (run failed)

Third Quarter

HWC: Sieg 11 yard run (PAT failed)

HWC: Jaxon Feist 13 yard pass from Thorson (pass failed)

HWC: Sieg 53 yard run (Thorson run)

Fourth Quarter

Rugby: Taytum Risovi 28 yard pass from Volk (pass failed)

HWC Statistics

Offense

Passing: Thorson 15-17-244-3 TD; Carter Laber 1-1-(-1)

Rushing: Sieg 10-104-3 TD; Thorson 7-21; Easton Schuh 2-33; Christian Mertz 3-18; Laber 1-14

Receiving: K. Keller 7-114-2 TD; Feist 4-40-TD; Sieg 2-38; Carson Heilman 1-35; Mertz 1-17; Grant Anderson 1-(-1)

Defense

Tackles (assisted/unassisted): K. Keller (4-4); Sieg (4-3); Heilman (1-3); Mertz (2-2); Alex Smith (3-0); Jadyn Vollmer (1-2); Manning Buchmiller (2-1); Boston Fike (1-2); Izaak Richter (2-0); Dominik Hoffart (2-0); Rylend Whetzel (0-2); Collin Meckle (2-0); E. Schuh (1-1); Anderson (0-2); Thorson (1-1); Gavyn Schuh (1-1); Frank Richter (1-1); Kiefer Finley (1-0); Feist (1-0); Aiden Hager (1-0); Nixon Buchmiller (1-0); Tyler Eckart (1-0); Seth Gleave (1-0); Isaac Keller (1-0)

Sack: Whetzel

Tackles for Loss: Heilman, K. Keller, Mertz, F. Richter

Interception: Thorson

Fumble Recovery: E. Schuh