PREP FOOTBALL: Orabs open with high-scoring win

ALBERT CITY, Iowa —A pair of long touchdown runs by senior quarterback Chris Balster helped lift Sheldon to a season-opening, 42-32, victory over Sioux Rapids in non-district Iowa high school football action Friday night.

Balster, who broke off quick touchdowns of 66 and 56 yards, respectively, in the fourth quarter, finished the game with 173 yards rushing on 16 carries. He also completed three passes — all for touchdowns — covering 104 yards.

Balster’s two TD runs raised his varsity career total to 27, making him the all-time touchdowns’ leader in Sheldon football history.

After a scoreless first quarter, both teams lit up the scoreboard in the second period with the Orabs holding a slight, 14-12, edge at halftime.

The Rebels tied the game at 20-20 late in the third quarter, but Sheldon responded with a 22-point fourth stanza to pull out the high-scoring triumph.

Both squads piled up lots of yardage, as Sheldon racked up 509 yards of total offense (405 on the ground, 104 passing) and Sioux Rapids rushed for 321 yards and passed for 45, giving the Rebels a total of 366.

Hunter McDonald (eight carries, 132 yards) capped Sheldon’s first scoring drive with a four-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter.

An 11-yard TD pass play from Balster to Tom Brown and a two-point conversion catch by McDonald (from Balster) gave Sheldon its next eight points.

In the third quarter, Brown hauled in a 23-yard touchdown catch from Balster.

Early in the fourth quarter — after the Rebels had tied the game late in the third — Balster connected with Nathan Oostra on a 70-yard scoring strike, putting the Orabs back on top.

After Sioux Rapids scored following a long kick return, Balster ripped off his 66-yard TD and later extended the Orabs’ lead to 42-26 with his 56-yard scoring run.

The Rebels scored their final touchdown with two minutes remaining in the contest, closing the final margin to 10 points.

Senior linebacker Matt Dykstra, who rushed for 57 yards on seven carries and scored a pair of two-point conversions in the fourth quarter (one on a rush and one on a catch), had a stellar night on defense for Sheldon, finishing the game with 18 total tackles – 12 solo and six assists.

Sheldon hosts Spencer in another non-district game Friday night at Orabs’ Stadium.

Sheldon 0 14 6 22 — 42

Sioux Rapids 0 12 8 12 — 32

Tags: sports, prep, football, sheldon