Hawks outlast Wolverines; advance to 9B semi-finals

COLMAN The Hawks scored four touchdowns during three quarters of play to overcome Herreid-Selby Area last Thursday on Fritz Field in the second round of Class 9B playoffs. Final score was 24-14.
A defensive battle opened the game as neither team scored in the opening quarter and much of the second quarter.
An eight yard run by Hayden Pearson with 2 minutes left in the second quarter set the score at 6-0 at half time. The conversion point effort failed.
In the third quarter, H-SA took the lead at the 8:36 mark with a three yard touchdown and two point conversion, but the Hawks took the lead right back with another score by senior Pearson less than a minute later at the 7:45 mark. Again the conversion points were halted but the hawks held the lead at 12-8.
Colman-Egan and Pearson scored again early in the fourth quarter to add to their lead. Pearson had a 13 yard touchdown at the 11:47 mark.
This time it would be the Wolverines who would strike using a 12 yard rush just a 1:12 later but no conversion points were made placing the score at 18-14.
Quarterback Zach Pederson and Rhyder Behnke sealed the win with a completed 18 yard pass play to score with 4:54 remaining where the games scoring would end at 24-14.
The Hawks compiled 10 first downs and 268 total yards on offense with 239 on the ground and 39 in the air.
They held the Woverines to only four first downs and 119 yards on offense; 30 in the air and 89 on the ground. Their quarterback completed only three of 15 passes.
Pearson carried the rushing load for the Hawks finishing with 215 yards off 40 carries and the three touchdowns.
Pederson was 2-of-4 in passing both to Behnke for the teams 39 yards and a score.
Behnke and Thomas Loehr led the defense with 13 tackles each to go along with Pedersons 10 stops.
Dalin Billmeier grabbed an interception to stop the Wolverines attack.
The loss drops Herreid-Selby to 7-3 and out of further post-season play while Coach Chad Williamsons Hawks upped their record to 7-3 and advance to face the Avon Pirates Friday evening in Avon.
Colman-Egan will look for revenge from a season opening loss to the Pirates, 38-0. A win would send the local boys to the dome.