PREP FOOTBALL: Balster leads Orabs past Hawks, 41-21

SHELDON, Iowa — Senior defensive safety and offensive quarterback Chris Balster scored three touchdowns and passed for two more Friday night as the host Sheldon Orabs earned a 41-21 non-district high school football victory over Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn.

On H-M-S’s second play from scrimmage, Balster darted in front of an intended Hawks’ pass receiver and rambled 39 yards with the interception for the game’s first touchdown.

Sophomore Trevor Mayer booted the first of his five first-half extra point kicks and with 11:49 showing on the first-quarter clock, Sheldon had a quick 7-0 lead.

Balster (11-of-14 passing for 211 yards and 10 rushes for 93 yards) fired a 51-yard pass completion to Nate Oostra on a “flea flicker” on Sheldon’s first offensive possession and later tossed a 23-yard touchdown pass to Hunter McDonald on a slant pattern over the middle.

McDonald (five catches for 105 yards) broke a couple of tackles on his way to the end zone, capping a 75-yard Orabs’ drive.

Mayer’s kick increased the Orabs’ lead to 14-0 at the 8:49 mark.

Seven minutes later, Balster rolled out to his left and rifled a 10-yard touchdown pass to Tom Brown (three catches for 38 yards) and Mayer’s kick lifted Sheldon to a 21-0 lead with 3:42 to play in the first quarter.

The visting Hawks (5-4) put together a couple of impressive drives in the second quarter, crossing the goal line both times.

But Sheldon countered each of H-M-S’s scores and took a 35-14 lead into intermission.

After Balster completed short passes to both Oostra (three catches for 68 yards) and McDonald, Brown came up with a terrific catch deep in Hawks’ territory —which was nullified by a holding penalty.

Balster came back with a 25-yard pass play to McDonald and then Matt Dysktra (three carries for 42 yards) ripped off a 33-yard touchdown run and Mayer’s kick put the Orabs on top, 28-7, with 8:35 left in the first half.

With two seconds remaining in the second quarter, Balster capped an Orab drive with a one-yard QB sneak for six points and a 35-14 halftime lead (after Mayer’s fifth consecutive PAT kick, with Balster holding on each).

Balster scored his third touchdown of the night on a 46-yard scamper in the third quarter. Mayer finally missed a PAT kick, but the Orabs took a 41-14 lead into the final quarter.

The Hawks, who churned out 228 yards on the ground and passed for 71 more, scored their third touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Daniel Heitritter rushed for a game-high 90 yards on 22 carries to H-M-S, while Casey Dorhout gained 64 yards on nine rushing attempts.

Logan Otis, a junior tailback, was Sheldon’s leading rusher, grinding out 86 yards on just 11 carries.

Sheldon displayed a balanced offensive attack with 272 total rushing yards to go along with its 211 yards through the air —for a total of 483.

Defensively, Balster had seven tackles, forced a fumble and intercepted a pass, while Dykstra came up with seven solo tackles and a pair of assists.

Sophomore linebacker Darin Greenfield (five solos, two assists, one sack), Dalton McQueen (four solo tackles, four assists) and Clayton Scheibler (two fumble recoveries) were among the other key contributors to Sheldon’s defensive performance.

Finishing the regular season with a sparkling 7-2 record, the Orabs will host Forest City (the No. 3 seed from District 2) in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs Wednesday night.

H-M-S 0 14 0 7 — 21

Sheldon 21 14 6 0 — 41

B-H/RV 28, CL/G-LR 7

ROCK RAPIDS, Iowa — Jesse Henrichs led the Central Lyon/George-Little Rock Lions with 62 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown in a loss to Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley Friday.

B-H/RV scored first, picking up seven points in the first quarter to go up 7-0.

The score stayed the same up to halftime, but B-H/RV broke open the game with 14 points in the third to jump out to a 21-0 lead.

The Lions got on the board on Henrichs’ 55-yard TD run in the fourth quarter to bring themselves within 14 points. But B-H/RV also picked up seven points in the fourth to secure the win.

CL/G-LR had 149 yards rushing on 39 carries, while going one for nine through the air for nine yards and four interceptions.

The Lions defense allowed 275 total yards, but intercepted two passes.

Defensively for the Lions, Luke Grooters had four tackles, while Ben Starr added three tackles and a sack.

The Lions will most likely open the playoffs Wednesday against Garner-Hayfield/Ventura game.

B-H/RV 7 0 14 7 — 28

CL/G-LR 0 0 0 7 — 7

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