Penalties, special teams hinder Hawks in Homecoming loss to Kingsley-Pierson
In search of its first victory of the season, Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn carried a three-point lead into the final quarter of its non-district game with Kingsley-Pierson. However, the Panthers rallied with two fourth-quarter touchdowns to escape the Hawks 34-24. The Homecoming loss dropped HMS to 0-5 this season. That includes an 0-3 mark in Class 1A District 1.
A pair of special team miscues by the Hawks helped set up the go-ahead score for Kingsley-Pierson. With HMS leading 24-21, a snap rolled back to punter Jack Mastbergen and he was tackled at the Hawk 42 yard line. An interception by Slayton McCarter at the two, his second pick of the game, turned back the Panthers temporarily. The HMS possession ended with a short punt to their own 33. Kingsley-Pierson scored on a 17-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Beau Goodwin to receiver Landon Howe. Goodwin’s PAT kick gave the Panthers a 28-24 advantage.
“That was a tough one,” said HMS head coach Jay Eilers following the game. “I thought we moved the ball offensively very well. I thought our special teams were a hindrance tonight. I’ve got to do better.” A partially blocked punt on another bad snap and a Kingsley-Pierson kickoff return out to their 41 led to two other Panther touchdowns.
Looking to take back the lead in the fourth quarter, the Hawks drove down into Kingsley-Pierson territory but were set back by a holding penalty, coupled with an unsportsmanlike conduct call. With less than two minutes remaining, HMS attempted a pass which was intercepted by the Koch and returned 43 yards to the Hawk three yard line. Goodwin scored on the next play but his kick for the extra point was blocked by Bryce Ortega.
The late penalties were but two of many called on HMS. More than a few were of the pre-snap variety. “We’ve got to improve the penalties, and penalties are always on the head coach,” said Eilers. “I’ve got to do a better job. I love coaching our kids. I enjoy coaching our kids. But, I’ve got to do a better job to help them in the penalty area. The margin is too thin to win with the penalties that we’re giving in a game. If you have a penalty based off of effort, hey, those happen. But the pre-snap penalties, that’s on me.”
James Gellerman made his season debut and rushed for all three of the Hawk touchdowns. He also caught had key pass receptions on the first two HMS scoring drives. “James Gellerman had a great freshman year but that was his best football game tonight, hands down, bar none,” said Eilers, who also praised the efforts of McCarter, Zach Pearson and Ethan Wiersma. “I think Ethan Wiersma’s the unnoticed hero of just playing so hard and being able to be so multiple in formations and just helping us in every area that we ask him,” Eilers said “I know his physicality brought a lot to our run game tonight.”
The Hawks totaled 215 yards on the ground and 115 through the air. They had hoped to utilize Gellerman’s versatility throughout the game but conditions dictated otherwise. “We wanted to continue to move James around and play running back, wing, inside receiver, outside receiver,” noted the HMS head coach. “With some of the injuries that we had in the second half, with that physical game, we’re kind of limited in those situations and I think that hurt us offensively.”
The coach lauded the effort of his players in matching Kingsley-Pierson’s physicality and in pursuing and sprinting to the ball on defense, all the things they are asked to do and then do. “I thought we did it at a level that was so much higher tonight than we’ve seen so far this year,” stated Eilers. “The physicality – from the o-line to our blockers to our ball carriers, and defensively, – I mean there was some hitting going on. That was definitely a game that I’m proud of our kids on our effort. I’m extremely proud of their commitment to staying together.”
Up Next:
This Friday HMS plays their last road game on the schedule, renewing the rivalry with South O’Brien. The contest matches two teams in search of a first win of the season. The Wolverines also suffered a Homecoming loss last Friday as they fell 44-27 to Alta-Aurelia. “They’re going to be very similar to us,” acknowledged Eilers. “They’re going to run the ball. They’re going to be very physical. Again, they’re going to tackle physical. They play hard. By any means I don’t think that either team is going to have to try to get their kids excited for a football game Friday night. Boy, what a great opportunity. Decrease our penalties, continue to play physical, offensively and defensively, and great things are coming.” He added, “This is going to be a game of battle of the trenches. Linebacker play is going to be critical. Hey, who’s going to stop the run and who’s going to take advantage of big plays in the passing game when they’re available? I think there’s going to be some available for each team. Who makes the plays on those and then who takes away their pre-snap penalties. We’ve got to do it. It’s got to be us.”
Game time is 7:00 p.m. Friday, September 29 at Paullina.
K-P 0 15 6 13 – 34
HMS 8 8 8 0 – 24
First Quarter
8:42 HMS – James Gellerman 30 yard run (2 pt run) 8-0
Second Quarter
11:55 K-P – Kevin Wright 24 yard pass from Beau Goodwin (Goodwin kick) 8-7
1:55 HMS – Gellerman 2 yard run (Gellerman 2 pt run) 16-7
0:17 K-P – Goodwin 1 yard run (Brady Collins 2 pt pass from Goodwin) 16-15
Third Quarter
5:53 HMS – Gellerman 3 yard run (Gellerman 2 pt run) 24-15
4:07 K-P – Goodwin 2 yard run (2 pt run short) 24-21
Fourth Quarter
5:58 K-P – Landon Howe 17 yard pass from Goodwin (Goodwin kick) 24-28
1:35 K-P – Goodwin 3 yard run (kick blocked) 24-34