Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn got its chance at District champion Gehlen Catholic Friday night and became the latest team to leave the field with a loss. The Jays rushed for 350 yards and six touchdowns in defeating HMS 47-7 October 18 at Le Mars. Kale Pearson ran for four of those scores and also returned a punt for a touchdown.

“Same lesson we’ve learned all year,” commented Hawk head coach Jeremiah Delzer. “It’s a lot about sustained effort and our defense, I thought, played really lights out, especially in the first half. There were a couple of big plays because we missed tackles and we slightly missed our assignment and things like that. When you play a really good team with really good athletes they make you pay.”
The Hawks dropped to 3-5 on the season. Their record of 3-3 in Class A District 1 was good for a fourth-place finish and a playoff berth. HMS will travel to Britt on Friday, October 25 to face West Hancock. The 8-0 Eagles are the champions of District 2. “West Hancock’s a super physical team and we’ll have to come out with a good gameplan,” said Delzer.
As for the top three teams in the Hawks’ District, Gehlen will play Council Bluffs St. Albert, MMCRU hosts Logan-Magnolia and Sibley-Ocheyedan travels to Woodbury Central. The final District standings showed Gehlen at 6-0, MMCRU at 5-1 and Sibley-Ocheyedan at 4-2. Below the Hawks were Akron-Westfield at 2-4, Alta-Aurelia at 1-5 and South O’Brien at 0-5.
The Jays set the tone for the game with HMS by scoring on their first play from scrimmage. Trailing 14-0, the Hawks drove 41 yards for a touchdown. Quarterback Jack Mastbergen capped the drive with a two-yard scoring plunge and kicker Mattis Octmann added the extra point. HMS lost a fumble on its next possession. Gehlen converted the miscue into a touchdown on the way to a 33-7 halftime lead.
“I think we did some good things in the run game especially,” noted the Hawk coach. “We found some different shots. We’ve just got to find opportunities to stay on the field and not turn the ball over.”
Mastbergen was 6-of-17 passing for 104 yards. Slayton McCarter had a 46-yard reception and James Gellerman caught two passes for 47 yards. Gellerman and Mastbergen each rushed for 56 yards. Hunter Daggett carried two times for 10 yards and McCarter gained 14 yards on a reverse.
Alex Billings and Gellerman each recorded four tackles and Billings recovered a fumble. Making three tackles apiece were Isaac Schierholz, Blake Meendering, Mykle Meyers and Mastbergen.
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With West Hancock looming on the horizon, Delzer was asked about the difference between preparing for a playoff game and a regular season game. “The only difference is the stakes,” he responded. “There’s nothing to lose because everybody’s 0 and 0. We told our guys we’ve got to rest up, hang out this weekend and be ready to roll because nobody’s record matters on Friday and anyone can do anything.”
Game time for the First Round playoff contest is 7:00 p.m. Friday, October 25 at Britt.
HMS 0 7 0 0 – 7
Gehlen 14 19 14 0 – 47
First Quarter
11:37 Gehlen – Kale Pearson 80 yard run (kick failed) 0-7
2:19 Gehlen – Cole McCarty 59 yard run (Pearson 2-pt run) 0-14
Second Quarter
9:28 HMS – Jack Mastbergen 2 yard run (Mattis Octmann kick) 7-14
6:12 Gehlen – Pearson 8 yard run (Dylan Poeckes kick) 7-21
4:33 Gehlen – Pearson 34 yard run (kick failed) 7-27
1:21 Gehlen – Pearson 19 yard run (pass fails) 7-33
Third Quarter
2:41 Gehlen – McCarty 1 yard run (Poeckes 2-pt pass from McCarty) 7-41
0:16 Gehlen – Pearson 66 yard punt return (kick failed) 7-47
Rushing: Mastbergen 23-56, 1 TD; Gellerman 17-56; Slayton McCarter 1-14; Hunter Daggett 2-10.
Passing: Mastbergen 6-17, 104 yards.
Receiving: Gellerman 2-47, McCarter 1-46, Jayden Leth 1-6, Isaac Schierholz 1-3, Jackson Vogt 1-2.
Tackles: Gellerman, Alex Billings 4, Schierholz, Mastbergen, Blake Meendering, Mykle Meyers 3, Ricky Smith Jr. 2, Vogt 1.
Fumble recovery: Billings.
Kick returns: Gellerman 3-57.
Punt returns: Gellerman 1-6.