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With Sioux City Heelan coming to Harlan next Friday, HCHS should find out a lot about itself during the non-district portion of the schedule. Denison is expected to be much-improved this year, led by 290-pound University of Iowa recruit Brandon Scherff.
Cyclone head coach Curt Bladt hopes to figure out a lot about his personnel in these first two games and how best to use it.
"We just need to find out who can play," he said. "We've got two weeks to figure out if we can go a whole series or two, back to back, with all the number ones, or do we have to spell them right away. Are they capable of playing on both sides of the ball all the time or part of the time or none of the time? Those are going to be things that we've got to get answered before we get to Atlantic (Sept. 11)."
Since the Cyclones faced D-S in last year's opener, the Monarchs have transitioned Scherff from the starting quarterback to the offensive line. Scherff played tight end last season and is listed as the starting right tackle for Friday's opener. He will also start at defensive end.
"He's kind of like a big eraser. Whoever you put (on him) kind of gets erased," Bladt said. "When he's on defense he takes two people, and that allows the people around him to filter in. He's a formidable object out there. He's a good player."
The Cyclones also have a formidable headliner in senior fullback and linebacker Matt Hoch (6-4, 245), who is headed to the Iowa Hawkeyes next year as well. Chances are good that the future teammates will be crossing paths a few times on Friday night, and a few noisy collisions could be on tap.
"There might be," Bladt said, "because I don't think Hoch will back down and I don't think Brandon will, either."
The Monarchs average about 250 pounds across a monstrous offensive line, compared to 253 for the Cyclones.
Both teams also have athletic quarterbacks. Michael Kaufmann of HCHS is dangerous as both a thrower and a runner, while D-S junior Ricky Torres stands 6-6 with good speed as well.
"They'll test us. They'll spread us out, try to make us thin in the middle and establish the running game," Bladt said.
Cyclone junior tailback Dylan Barrett could be the X-factor in the game if he can find some room to run. Bladt says the Cyclones will use some different blocking schemes this season and spice up the running game with some misdirection.
"Normally, we block down, kick out and you can count on that 99 percent of the time," he said. "We're trying to do a few things different from what we've ordinarily done, and that kind of spits in the face of what we've preached for a long time. There are some things that we're going to do to take advantage of people ganging up on us."
Harlan Community at Denison-Schleswig
Friday, August 28, 7:30 p.m.
Series History
HCHS leads all-time, 49-32-4.
at Harlan: HCHS leads, 27-15-1.
at Denison: HCHS leads, 22-17-3.
Playoffs: HCHS leads, 7-0.
** HCHS won 9 straight, 16 of last 18.
Last Five Meetings
2004 Playoffs: HCHS 35, D-S 0 (at D-S)
2005: HCHS 49, D-S 14 (at Denison)
2006: HCHS 15, D-S 12 (at Denison)
2007: HCHS 38, D-S 0 (at Harlan)
2008: HCHS 20, D-S 7 (at Harlan)
Probable Starters
OFFENSE
Harlan Community (0-0)
LT: 76, Marcus Streit (5-10, 240, sr.)
LG: 50, Joe Brummer (6-1, 235, so.)
C: 52, Mark Langenfeld (6-2, 255, sr.)
RG: 70, Joe Arentson (6-0, 190, sr.)
RT: 75, Joe Kohorst (6-4, 345, jr.)
TE: 80, Adam Cave (6-3, 200, jr.)
QB: 5, Michael Kaufmann (5-11, 155, sr.)
FB: 9, Matt Hoch (6-4, 245, sr.)
TB: 32, Dylan Barrett (6-0, 185, jr.)
SE: 42, Brian Kloewer (6-1, 190, sr.)
FL: 31, Luke Lansman (6-2, 190, sr.)
PK: 15, Trent Wendt (5-9, 150, jr.)
Denison-Schleswig (0-0)
LT: 74, Nick Ingram (6-2, 260, sr.)
LG: 66, Mike Rothe (6-0, 240, sr.)
C: 54, Joel Aurand (6-1, 235, sr.)
RG: 67, Jacob Heiden (6-1, 215, jr.)
RT: 76, Brandon Scherff (6-5, 290, sr.)
TE: 33, Andrew Assman (6-3, 175, sr.)
QB: 12, Ricky Torres (6-6, 185, jr.)
FB: 40, John Blum (6-1, 180, sr.)
HB: 6, Jesse Preul (5-10, 165, sr.)
SE: 82, Matt Eiten (6-1, 170, sr.)
FL: 4, Matt Reitz (6-0, 155, jr.)
PK: 41, Carl Reitz (5-11, 175, jr.)
DEFENSE
Harlan Community (0-0)
LDE: 8, Jon Kaufman (6-3, 200, sr.)
DT: 76, Marcus Streit (5-10, 240, sr.) or 77, Mitch Anderson (5-10, 215, jr.)
DT: 47, Alex Brown (5-11, 195, jr.)
RDE: 6, Ryan Fahn (6-3, 195, sr.)
LOLB: 70, Joe Arentson (6-0, 190, sr.)
MLB: 9, Matt Hoch (6-4, 245, sr.)
ROLB: 12, Derek Schwartz (6-0, 185, jr.)
S: 31, Luke Lansman (6-2, 190, sr.)
S: 4, Craig Connell (6-2, 150, sr.)
CB: 42, Brian Kloewer (6-1, 190, sr.)
CB: 7, Anthony Hough (5-8, 150, sr.)
Punter: 15, Trent Wendt (5-9, 150, jr.)
Denison-Schleswig (0-0)
DE: 10, Brandon Scherff (6-5, 290, sr.)
DT: 72, Josh Carritt (5-9, 215, sr.)
DT: 77, Aaron Baughman (6-0, 195, jr.)
DE: 61, Nate Tibbetts (6-0, 180, sr.)
OLB: 40, John Blum (6-1, 180, sr.)
MLB: 32, Jeremy Gallagher (5-8, 175, jr.)
OLB: 33, Andrew Assman (6-3, 175, sr.)
SS: 41, Carl Reitz (5-11, 175, jr.)
FS: 4, Matt Reitz (6-0, 155, jr.)
CB: 6, Jesse Preul (5-10, 165, sr.)
CB: 11, Taylor Starman (6-0, 160, sr.)
Punter: 82, Matt Eiten (6-1, 170, sr.)
