Thunder hold off Hornets, 28-21

Lane Moellenkamp | Sep 02, 2024

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August 23 saw a great crowd on hand to witness the opening game of the 2024 Harvey-Wells County Hornet football campaign. The fans saw a good game from start to finish, with both offenses showcasing their talents and both defenses making some solid hits and plays throughout the game in HWC's 28-21 loss to the Ellendale/Edgeley-Kulm Thunder.

The Thunder put on a rushing show during both the first half and the second half. The visitors put up over 220 yards in the first half and ended the game with nearly 400 yards on the ground. The Hornets, on the other hand, used a solid passing game to score their points with the receiving crew of Tyler Swang, Jaxon Feist and Kayl Sieg catching 13 balls for 242 yards and quarterback Tallen Thorson throwing for 272 yards.

Both teams' opening possessions were good drives that ended in turnovers on downs. The Thunder moved the ball 30 yards, while HWC picked up 53 before being stopped at the E-E-K 9-yard line.

The Thunder's opening score was set up by an Ivan Carruth 59-yard run and was followed up by a 27-yard scamper from Benet Giesler to set up Drew Thorpe's 2-yard score. Thorpe added the PAT for the game's first score.

HWC responded with a 79-yard drive which included a 14-yard pass to Feist as well as a 15-yard illegal hit call against E-E-K. The Hornets finished the drive with a 17-yard strike from Thorson to Swang for the Hornets first score. After a penalty on the PAT kick try, the Hornets attempt to go for two failed, and the Thunder led, 7-6, early in the second.

E-E-K responded with a quick five-play drive, rushing for 30 yards before Thorpe found a gap and sprinted through for a 29- yard scoring run. Thorpe again added the PAT kick for a 14-7 lead. The Hornets finished the first half scoring late in the second, and did it in quick fashion also. Thorson found Feist for 35 yards and then Swang for 35 more before connecting with Sieg for a 15-yard score. The PAT pass from Thorson to Feist knotted the score at 14 all at the half.

Feist's interception in the end zone was a huge play early in the second half, as the Thunder had the ball inside the HWC 7-yard line. HWC used the motivation of the pick to move the ball 80 yards in six plays for the touchdown. Thorson opened the drive with a 40-yard bomb to Swang, who stepped in front of the E-E-K defender to make a great catch. A 29-yard pass to Sieg followed, and then a five yard pass to Swang in the endzone gave HWC their first lead of the night. The PAT by Carter Laber moved the Hornets ahead by seven.

HWC's lead lasted just a few seconds, as the Thunder's Joseph Kramlich took the ensuing kickoff 81 yards for the score. The PAT run by Ivan Carruth moved the E-E-K lead to 22-21 late in the third. The Thunder defense stepped it up a notch, as Kramlich had his first of two picks early in the fourth quarter to stall the HWC drive. E-E-K showed their passing game on their final scoring drive, as the Thunder scored on a 26-yard pass from Thorpe to Carruth. The PAT was unsuccessful, leaving the Hornets down just seven, 28-21.

Kramlich secured his second pick of the fourth quarter on the Hornets' final drive. The Thunder ended the game rolling off 42 yards rushing to run the clock out and seal the victory.

The Hornets were led offensively by Thorson's 272 yards through the air and 52 yards on the ground. The Hornets could not muster a consistent offensive rushing attack, which ultimately caused the Thunder to better handle the HWC passing attack late in the game. Swang led the receiving crew with five grabs for 142 yards.

Defensively, the Hornets were led by Sieg's 16 tackles, which was followed up by 12 more tackles from Nixon Buchmiller. Both Swang and Boston Fike each had a sack, while Feist added an interception and Sieg a fumble recovery in the loss.

Nonregion Class A Football

Ellendale/Edgeley-Kulm 28,

HWC 21

E-E-K 7 7 8 6 - 28

HWC 0 14 7 0 - 21

First Quarter

E-E-K: Drew Thorpe 2 yard run (Thorpe kick)

Second Quarter

HWC: Tyler Swang 17 yard pass from Tallen Thorson (pass failed)

E-E-K: Thorpe 29 yard run (Thorpe kick)

HWC: Kayl Sieg 15 yard pass from Thorson (Jaxon Feist pass from Thorson)

Third Quarter