PREP FOOTBALL: Generals stifle Warriors in finale

SIBLEY, Iowa — Moving the ball to the tune of 408 total yards of offense and allowing just 37 net yards defensively Friday night, the Sibley-Ocheyedan Generals finished the regular season in style by claiming an impressive 35-0 victory over the Alta/Aurelia Warriors in an Iowa Class 1A, District 2 high school football game.

S-O just missed qualifying for the playoffs, finishing fifth in the eight-team district standings with a 3-4 record (4-5 overall). The top four teams in each district earn advancement to postseason play in Iowa.

“This was a great, all-around effort by everybody on our team,” S-O head coach Jordan Menning said after the game. “We played well in all three phases, and that’s what it takes to be successful. We definitely came out ready to play tonight, and this really is a fantastic way to end the season for our football team.”

Casey Hertz scored a pair of touchdowns for the Generals, while Harrison Feldkamp, Owen Wiese and Kelly Schoneman all reached the end zone once in a well-balanced offensive attack that featured 154 yards rushing and 254 yards passing.

“We moved the ball well, both on the ground and through the air,” Menning said. “Our offensive line did a great job and blocked very well up front, which allowed us to be balanced and efficient with our drives. I was extremely pleased with how we played offensively.”

Generals score on final play of first quarter to take command

Both teams moved the ball well on the game’s first two possessions, as A/A (1-9, 0-7) picked up a trio of first downs on the opening drive.

Jalen Henningsen’s four-yard run on a fake punt, Garret Van Houten’s 12-yard rumble up the middle, and a seven-yard surge by Henningsen helped the Warriors move the chains three times and drive into Generals’ territory.

S-O, though, came up with a defensive stop on fourth-and-one and took over on downs at its own 27-yard line. The Generals earned three first downs of their own on their initial series, marching to A/A’s two-yard stripe.

Wiese (11-for-15 passing, 238 yards, three touchdowns; nine carries for 55 yards and a score) fired a 32-yard strike to Feldkamp, who made a nifty one-handed catch on a quick pass over the middle, on S-O’s second play of the drive. Wiese later connected with Jacob Seivert on a 10-yard gain for S-O’s second chain-moving play.

Wiese kept the ball himself two plays later for a 13-yard scamper, setting up a first-and-goal situation from the seven-yard line.

However, on fourth-and-goal from the two, A/A’s Spencer Bezoni recovered a Generals’ fumble — bringing S-O’s 10-play, 71-yard drive to an end.

But the Generals got the ball right back after forcing a three-and-out, and Ethan Stofferan (10 carries for 58 yards; one pass completion for 16 yards) returned Henningsen’s punt 25 yards to start S-O’s second offensive series at the Warriors’ 25-yard line.

Following a three-yard run by Hertz, Wiese tossed a 22-yard touchdown pass to Feldkamp — who caught the ball on a slant pattern and stretched to break the plane of the goal line as time expired in the first quarter. Feldkamp also booted the PAT, as the Generals took a 7-0 lead.

A 14-yard run by Henningsen gave the Warriors a first down on the ensuing possession, but Stofferan (nine total tackles) later recorded a quarterback sack to force a turnover on downs.

Sparked by a pair of pass completions — Wiese to Stofferan for 25 yards on a middle screen, and Stofferan to Feldkamp for 16 yards on a half-back pass — the Generals once again drove inside the Warriors’ 10-yard line.

The Generals, though, lost a fumble for the second time when A/A’s Santiago Razo pounced on a loose ball at the seven-yard line.

But the Warriors, who had a net of 22 yards rushing and passed for only 15 yards, punted the ball after three plays. A/A also failed to get anything going the rest of the game, as several tackles for a loss and quarterback sacks — including one apiece by Grant Greenfield and Dylan Brockshus — by the Generals throughout the remaining action kept S-O in control.

“We were aggressive to the ball and played physical defensively,” Menning said. “It was huge to shut them out like we did, as we did a nice job of stopping their running game. We got after it and played well for all four quarters.”

S-O’s offense turns in lots of highlights, scores four more TDs

The Generals scored on back-to-back drives to end the second quarter, taking a 21-0 halftime advantage. A four-play, 35-yard series that included a 20-yard keeper by Wiese was capped by a 10-yard touchdown run on a reverse by Hertz.

Feldkamp split the uprights for his second extra point, lifting S-O to a 14-0 lead with 3:18 remaining in the first half.

Another three-and-out by the Generals’ defense was followed by a six-play, 47-yard scoring drive. The key play was a 30-yard reception hauled in by Seivert down the right sideline.

A six-yard touchdown run by Wiese on a quarterback draw up the middle, plus Feldkamp’s third PAT, made it a 21-0 margin with 24.1 seconds to go.

S-O punted for the only time to begin the third quarter, but the Generals got back on track during their next two possessions — scoring on each to produce a 35-0 bulge and bring the running-time rule into effect.

Wiese hooked up with Schoneman for an electrifying 90-yard touchdown at the 6:35 mark, extending the gap to 27-0 (PAT no good). Schoneman reeled in the pass on a crossing route near midfield, slipped a tackle and was off to the races to complete a long, catch-and-run scoring play.

“That was a great play,” Menning said. “Owen had a very nice game at quarterback, making some nice throws and also running the ball well. Our receivers showed their athletic ability several times and made big plays at key moments.”

Wiese and Hertz completed S-O’s scoring with 2:48 on the clock, executing on a nicely-done middle screen pass. Hertz made the catch and cut to the left sideline, following a convoy of blockers into the end zone for a 38-yard touchdown.

Hertz, who also had a team-high 10 total tackles, added the two-point conversion on a run through a huge hole opened up by S-O’s offensive line, as the Generals were ahead 35-0.

“Casey is one of our senior leaders and he had a great game to end his career,” Menning said. “I am very proud of the way our entire team performed in this game and competed all year long. We really ended the season on a positive note with the way we played tonight.”

A/A 0 0 0 0 — 0

S-O 7 14 14 0 — 35

Tags: sibley-ocheyedan, sports, prep, football