Homecoming is a week of celebration and spirit. It is a week of celebration, dressing up in wacky outfits during the week, numerous pep rallies and the naming of Homecoming King and Queen amongst a court.
Before the big dance to cap the week, Homecoming has its football.
This week, South Central Calhoun enjoyed its spirit week. This week, the Titans enjoyed its Homecoming Week by flexing its muscles on the gridiron.
Facing Ogden on the big occasion, the No. 6-ranked Titans overwhelmed the Bulldogs by the final score of 61-8 last Friday night in a Class 1A-District 2 contest at the SCC High School Football Field in Lake City.
Following a quiet first quarter, the Titans erupted in the second and third quarters, outpacing Ogden by a 48-0 differential.
Not only did SCC see senior running back/linebacker Landon Schleisman rush for 119 yards and three touchdowns on just six carries, the Titan defense also punished Ogden signal caller Sam Christensen with six sacks and three interceptions.
In the wake of the lopsided victory, the Titans started their district slate with a 1-0 record and remained unbeaten at 5-0 overall. The Bulldogs dipped down to an 0-1 district record and 1-4 overall.
According to SCC head football coach Bryan Case, everyone played their part in the big win.
“This was a good Homecoming victory and our team is going to enjoy it,” Case said, following the game. “I thought we got off to a flat start, but we responded and had a great second quarter and third quarter. We were able to play everyone, which makes this night even better for our entire team. Everyone contributed to the cause, and I'm proud of their efforts. Next week is a huge test for our program against a good South Hamilton team, so come Monday, it's back to business as usual.”
Next up for the Titans will indeed be the Hawks, slated for a 7 p.m. game time at the SCC High School Football Field in Lake City.
South Hamilton (3-2, 1-0 in district) handled Madrid 28-6 last Friday in Madrid.
Scoring updates and video highlights will be available on The Graphic-Advocate’s Facebook page and at “@Tyler_Liger” on Twitter.
Even though the Titans were slow coming out of the gate, the powerful motor of Schleisman got things rolling by plowing through defenders for a 15-yard touchdown run. Following senior Zane Neubaum’s PAT with 5:33 to go in the first quarter, the Titans held a 7-0 lead.
The Titans had the ability to increase their lead before the end of the period, but surrendered a fumble deep in Ogden territory. Despite the early turnover, SCC was unfazed and took possession as time expired in the first quarter.
The second quarter was witness to a burst from the Titans, as SCC rattled off 20 points leading to halftime. Those scores came from junior Brennan Holder’s 20 yard touchdown run at the 11:46 mark, an exhilarating 21-yard touchdown run from junior Jordan Khommanyvong with 6:32 remaining, before junior quarterback Cole Corey connected with Neubaum on a 39-yard touchdown pass with 2:20 to go until the break.
Although the Titans failed the two-point attempt, the purple clad gladiators of the gridiron went into the locker room with a 27-0 advantage.
When SCC took back to the field to start the second half, Schleisman became the beast untamed. From the Titans’ own 49-yard line, the senior tore through Ogden defenders and rumbled his way into paydirt for a 51-yard score.
“My line has been blocking well for me so far this season,” Schleisman said, praising his offensive line. “They don’t get the credit that they deserve and it makes me feel good every time when they go hard for me every single play.”
“I started to go to the outside,” Schleisman continued, touching on the big score. “I usually like bouncing to the outside, but then I saw a seam on the inside. I saw two blockers there, so I took it and I had great blocking the entire way.”
This pushed the SCC lead out to 34-0 at the 11:41 mark, which staved off the running clock for a few more minutes. Less than four minutes later, Corey paved his way into the endzone on a 21-yard touchdown run with 7:53 to go in the third stanza.
Schleisman then added a 20-yard touchdown run at the 4:31 mark, to put the Titans up by a 48-0 margin. In the following Ogden drive, Christensen was picked off by senior wideout/defensive back Jason Goff, who took the INT back to the house for a 35-yard touchdown.
“I saw (Christensen) roll out, and I knew that this was my opportunity,” Goff said of his pick six. “When I caught the ball, I saw nothing but wide open field. I took off, and before I knew it, I scored a touchdown.”
“It was so crazy,” Goff added. “We played so well, and it feels even better to win like that on Homecoming. I feel so happy, but I also feel sad that this will be my last Homecoming. But hopefully, we’ll finish this season undefeated and come away as champions. That’s what we all want.”
With 3:48 left, SCC had built up an insurmountable 55-0 lead. It would be an advantage that the Titans would take into the final period.
Ogden did put points on board with 4:31 left in the game, as Christensen found senior wideout Ethan Haberer for a 16-yard touchdown pass and was followed by a two-point conversion by Christensen.
Even though the Bulldogs prevented the shutout, the Titans were not finished with their scoring. Less than a minute later, junior running back/defensive back Evan Jacobs had his chance to electrify the Titan faithful with an 81-yard touchdown run.
On the play, Jacobs stiff-armed a defender, cut to the outside and sprinted along the sideline toward the endzone. Even after a failed two-point attempt, the Titans took a 61-8 lead and cruised on the wide margin toward their 16th-straight district victory.
Jacobs followed Schleisman in the rushing leaderboard, rushing for 87 yards and his fourth quarter touchdown in just two carries.
Holder reeled in 54 yards and a score on two attempts, followed by Corey’s 42 yards in four carries.
Holder then had seven tackles, including two and a sack tackles for a loss and two sacks. Corey was 2-of-6 for 82 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
Neubaum was the lone receiver, capturing two passes for 82 yards and a touchdown.
Scheidegger, McAlister and Goff hauled in interceptions, while senior lineman Gage Cates compiled three sacks and four tackles. Henkenius had six and a half tackles, while senior lineman Brian King had four and a half tackles. King, sophomore Jayden Soard, senior Daniel Stevens and senior Hunter Voith were credited with sacks, as well.
In other district play, Pocahontas Area soundly defeated Eagle Grove by a final score of 52-8. This Friday, Eagle Grove will pay Madrid a visit while Pocahontas will play host to Ogden.
South Central Calhoun 61, Ogden 8
OHS 0 0 0 8 – 8
SCC 7 20 28 6 – 61
First Quarter
SCC – Landon Schleisman 15 run (Zane Neubaum kick), 5:33.
Second Quarter
SCC – Brennan Holder 20 run (Neubaum kick), 11:46.
SCC – Jordan Khommanyvong 21 run (Neubaum kick), 6:32.
SCC – Neubaum 39 catch from Cole Corey (conversion failed), 2:20.
Third Quarter
SCC – Schleisman 51 run (Neubaum kick), 11:41.
SCC – Corey 27 run (Neubaum kick), 7:53.
SCC – Schleisman 20 run (Neubaum kick), 4:31.
SCC – Jason Goff 35 INT return (Neubaum kick), 3:48.
Fourth Quarter
OHS – Ethan Haberer 16 pass from Sam Christensen (Christenson run), 4:31.
SCC – Evan Jacobs 81 run (conversion failed), 3:25.
OHS SCC
First Downs 14 8
Rushing 51 404
Passing 199 82
Total Yards 250 486
C-A-I 19-31-3 2-7-1
Punts-Avg. 7-34.7 1-41
Penalties-Yards 47-5 5-40
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 1-1
SCC INDIVIDUAL STATS:
RUSHING – Schleisman 6-119; Jacobs 2-87; Holder 2-54; Corey 4-42; McAlister 4-40; Jordan Khommanyvong 2-35; Kaegan Meyer 4-34.
PASSING – Corey 2-6-1-82; Josh Henkenius 0-1-0-0.
RECEIVING – Neubaum 2-82.
DEFENSIVE LEADERS – McAlister 1 INT, 5 tackles; Chase Scheidegger 1 INT, 3 tackles; Jason Goff 1 INT; Gage Cates 4 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 3 sacks; Holder 7 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 2 sacks; Henkenius 6.5 tackles; Brian King 4.5 tackles, 0.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks; Daniel Stevens 3.5 tackles, 2 TFL, 1.5 sacks; Jayden Soard 2 TFL, 1.5 sacks.
Class 1A-District 2 Standings
Team District Overall
SCC 1-0 5-0
Pocahontas Area 1-0 3-2
South Hamilton 1-0 3-2
Ogden 0-1 1-4
Eagle Grove 0-1 0-5
Madrid 0-1 0-5
