Friday night’s 14-6 win at HLV was probably all the Belle Plaine coaching staff could ask for. It was a win in the first game of the season against a Class A team that looked to be improved over last year’s playoff qualifier. It was a hard-hitting game from the opening kickoff. And the Plainsmen did some good things but showed they have plenty to work on as they dealt with some player personnel adversity.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Plainsmen put the first points on the board with 7:34 remaining in the half. Brian Crow capped a 57-yard, 11-play drive with a seven-yard touchdown run. The conversion pass failed and the visitors had a 6-0 lead.
That was the score until the last 10 seconds of the half, when Seivon Steward broke free off the left side for 47 yards and a touchdown. It was a bubble screen lateral which went into the books as a running play. Crow ran in the conversion for a 14-0 lead at the half.
HLV scored with 3:08 remaining in the third quarter as Bryce Kuesel went over from a yard out, capping a nine-play, 63-yard drive. The extra point kick failed.
Coach Todd Bohlen would call the first game a “game of attrition.” The team’s leading receiver, Chris Janss, suffered a concussion and was out from early in the second quarter. Steward was out for the second half with cramps and sophomore receiver Cooper Northrop saw limited action due to cramping. And eight players were missing due to team suspensions of varying length.
With several key players sidelined, some sophomores and even a freshman were pressed into service, the coach said.
Six Plainsmen carried the ball in the game, led by Crow’s 18 attempts for 89 yards. Steward had five carries for 65 yards and a touchdown. Ryan Rupp had three carries for 22 yards, Kyle Janss had nine for 28, Northrop had two for one yard and John Long had two carries for minus one yard.
Long completed four of five passes for 30 yards. Crow caught three passes for 18 yards and Brayden Morrow had the other catch for 12 yards.
The punting game appears to be sound. Chris Janss had one punt for 42 yards. Then when he went out, Keegan DeMeulenaere punted four times for a 32-yard average.
There were plenty of solid defensive performances in the game. Raymond Edgar had seven tackles, including three for losses. Chris Janss had two tackles, Rupp had 10 tackles with one for loss, Crow had four tackles with one for loss, Tony Jones had four tackles and a fumble recovery, Steward and Long each had a tackle, Morrow had five with one for loss, Austin Chekal had three tackles and a sack, DeMeulenaere had five. Devon Parr had nine tackles, Northrop had three, Scott Wheeler had six with a sack, Ousmane Camara had three and Cody Chekal had one.
This week, Bohlen indicated that his team will have plenty of things to work on as the Plainsmen get set to host Highland Riverside. Highland lost to Columbus Junction, 22-7 last week. The Huskies had minus 10 yards rushing in the game, but they were 16 for 30 for 172 yards in passing. Bohlen indicated that they will run the shotgun spread offense. He recalled that his team forced seven turnovers in the game last year and he is hoping for a similar effort this week.
He said the Plainsmen had several missed blocking assignments last week. Then late in the game, HLV had two open receivers who dropped the ball, which could have led to a tying touchdown.
The coach said those players who suffered cramps last week will have to pay closer attention to their fluid and electrolytes intake this week. Janss was being medically evaluated early this week, but it’s doubtful he will see much action Friday night as he recovers from the concussion.
Belle Plaine 0 14 0 0 - 14
HLV 0 0 6 0 - 6
BP HLV
First downs 9 13
Rushes/yds. 38-204 35-127
Passes 4-5-0 10-19-0
Pass yds. 30 82
Punts 5-34 3-34
Fumbles 3-1 1-1
Penalties 7-55 2-10
