The third-ranked Hinton football team came up short in their Class 1A semifinal on Friday afternoon falling to second-ranked Dike-New Hartford 24-18.
Right away, Hinton struggled to move the football on the ground which had been their calling card all season. The Wolverines used that early momentum to get up 14-0 early in the second quarter with scores on their first two drives. Hinton head coach Kadrian Hardersen says that ultimately put them in a hole they could not climb out of.
The struggle to run the ball came from losing the battle in the trenches. Jacob Bishop was in that battle all day and says their guys just made more plays to have an impact.
The Blackhawks were able to make some adjustments that turned to successful drives. Hinton’s passing attack threw to the tune of almost 200 yards on 18 completions. Coach Hardersen says he had no qualms with throwing the ball more because he knows how good of a quarterback Gabe Anderson is.
It was a tough day for Anderson who ended up getting sacked three times and hurried more than that. He says all the credit goes to his receivers who made plays even when he could not see what happened.
All was not lost for Hinton late in the first half after trailing 14-0. The Blackhawks were able to force a turnover after committing a turnover on the play prior and march down field to score before the break. Coach Hardersen says that sequence changed the complexion of things coming out of the locker room.
Neither side could get into much of a groove in the third quarter with both teams failing to score. Dike-New Hartford would get back on the board in the fourth quarter with a field goal and touchdown to make it 24-6 game with three minutes to play. The Blackhawks were able to score to make it a two-possession game, recover an onside kick, and score again to bring the game to within a score with under a minute to go. Coach Hardersen says he was proud of the way the guys executed to give themselves a chance.
Hinton senior Kyle Leary says the guys were motivated because they knew there was still time left on the clock.
Anderson says he was trying to fight the urge to give up because he knew his high school football career was on the line.
Hinton had to recover a second onside kick and failed to do so giving Dike-New Hartford the 24-18 win. The loss put an end to the senior years of 12 Blackhawks who have turned things around in Hinton. The Blackhawks went 1-7 their freshman year and turned it into a Dome appearance as seniors. More than that, Coach Hardersen says the program off the field has been improved immensely by their leadership.
Leary says the senior class was so close and wanted to do everything to have success.
The Blackhawks were kindergartners and preschoolers when Hinton was last at the Dome. Bishop says that trip motivated them as young kids to be able to bring the program back to Cedar Falls.
Now, the page turns to a group of juniors, sophomores, and freshmen who will be trying to keep the success going. Coach Hardersen says the seniors set the standard for the next classes of Blackhawks to try and reach.
Hinton ends the year at 10-2. Dike-New Hartford will face off with Grundy Center in the Class 1A state championship game next Thursday at 4:00 PM.
