Harper puts it together for 'must' win
More than any other time that they needed it this season, Harper's football squad came together Saturday and played its best "team" game in a 21-14 win over visiting Ellsworth Community College of Iowa.
The win kept the Hawks (4-4, 3-3) very much alive for the Midwest Conference playoffs, with a No. 3 or 4 seed to boot. Coming off a disheartening loss last week in which they surrendered 55 points and lost by 31, the win was especially encouraging.
"It was a great atmosphere on the sideline at the end of the game," said coach Dragan Teonic as he watched his offense cheer the defense on a stop on fourth-and-inches with 7:56 left at their own 24.
Then the offense converted a fourth-and-inches chance with 1:16 left which enabled Harper to run out the clock.
"Our defense played great. Defense wins games," said wide receiver Brian Mitz, who made 6 catches for 106 yards and what turned out to be the game-wining points on a 5-yard pass from scrambling quarterback Garrett Barnas (18 of 33, 280 yards).
"He makes great plays. We just made eye contact," Mitz said. "He's a great player.
Barnas also caught a TD pass from Brian Whitehead on a double-reverse option.
Ellsworth's pass rush, especially Jake Peterson, was in Barnas' face all day and he was thrown for losses five times. But Barnas also turned potential losses into gains and kept drives alive with his quick feet, evading the rush.
The defense did its part, shutting down quarterback Jessie Bundrage and running back Joe Morris (21 carries, 81 yards and a touchdown) when they had to -- including the crucial fourth down in the final quarter.
Erik Fossen and Ron Celli spent a lot of time keeping Bundrage on the run and leading a defensive effort that limited Ellsworth to 224 yards of total offense.
Teonic liked how the defense responded after last week's effort, with far fewer missed tackles.
"This conference, there's never an easy game," Teonic said.
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