Rams’ 49-41 victory over Harlan first since 1994

HARLAN - In the near half century of football history between Glenwood and Harlan, several numbers stand out in a lopsided rivalry.

46 – the number of Cyclones wins over Glenwood in its last 47 meetings.

1994 – the year of the Rams’ one and only win in the series.
But there is just one number that mattered Friday night in Harlan.

49.

As in, Glenwood 49, Harlan 41.

In a wild-shootout that saw the two teams combine for more than 1,000 yards and very few punts, the Rams exorcised the demons of a two-decade losing streak with a victory over the Cyclones.

“This feels great. It’s awesome,” said Glenwood coach Cory Faust after the game. “I’m so proud of the kids and I happy for them. I think there’s kind of an aura in Glenwood about beating Harlan and I’m really proud they were able to get it done.”

The Rams, who lost their district opener a week ago 21-12 to Carroll, were able to get a lot done from their opening possession.

After forcing a Harlan punt on its opening possession, Glenwood marched 76 yards in nine plays capped by Cole Loeffelbein’s one-yard touchdown drive to take a 7-0 early lead.

The Cyclones would respond with a 10 play, 80 yard drive of their own, on the ensuing possession, to knot the score at 7-7 with just over two minutes to go in the opening frame.

But the Rams came right back, again with Loeffelbein pounding away at an undersized Cyclone defensive line. Loeffelbein raced in for a career-best 57 yards TD scamper and, after the extra-point, Glenwood led 14-0.

The Cyclones appeared to be driving once again on their following possession but the Ram defense stiffened and held on a fourth-and-nine at its own 27. Six plays later, Glenwood quarterback Kolten Wilwerding raced in from 14 yards out on a keeper to extend the

Rams’ lead to 21-7 with 8:37 to go in the half.

The first half fireworks didn’t end there.

Cyclone quarterback Deren Schmitz connected with Joshua Cheek on a 15 yard scoring toss to trim the lead to 21-14.

Glenwood, after running the ball on 16 of its first 18 snaps, then opened up the playbook. Wilwerding hooked up with Mavrick Decker on a 74 yard pitch and catch to put the Rams’ lead back to 14 points with just under three minutes to go before halftime.

And the nearly two hour first half that saw the two teams combine for 674 yards, still wasn’t over as Harlan responded with a Schmitz to Nick Foss 81 yard touchdown toss with 46 seconds to go in the half.

Glenwood, however, didn’t waste the seconds before half. Wilwerding connected with Decker on an eight yard completion and then found the Rams’ star receiver on a hitch-and-go to for a 72 yard TD connection to send the game into halftime with the Rams ahead 35-21.

The Rams – and the Wilwerding to Decker battery – picked up right where they left on the opening drive of the second half as the QB found the receiver from 10 yards out to cap a nine play, 80 yard drive.

But the Cyclones didn’t shirk from a 42-21 deficit.

A Foss one-yard plunge and a Schmitz to Cheek 27-yard TD hook up sandwiched around a Ram turnover left the Cyclones trailing only 42-35 with more than 16 minutes to go in the game.

The Rams responded by getting back to what got them there early: Loeffelbein, right, left and up the middle.

The 6-foot-2, 200 pound senior carried eight times in a grueling, 14 play drive that ate up more than six minutes of clock. He capped the drive himself from three yards out to give Glenwood a 49-35 lead with 10 minutes to go in the game.

“We have good guys up front and in looking at our game last week, we probably threw a little too much and maybe if we had stuck with the run we could have hung on,” Faust said of his team’s inability to hold a lead in the second half against Carroll last week. “We feel like, tonight, we were a stronger team than them.”

The Rams would have to prove it.

The Cyclones wasted little time responding with Foss racing 55 yards around the left side for touchdown that cut the lead to 49-41 with 9:53 to go.

Glenwood would hold the ball for nearly seven minutes on its ensuing drive but a 41-yard field goal attempt would sail wide left to give the Cyclones life.

A perfectly executed hook-and-ladder play for 24 yards, completitions of six and seven yards and a 13 yard run by Foss set up Harlan inside the Rams’ 24 with just over a minute to go.

The Rams’ defense was determined, however, not to let this Harlan game end like so many others. Two straight incompletions by Schmitz and a two yard loss by Foss set up fourth-and-12 at the 25 inside 40 seconds. Schmitz, and the Cyclones, would have likely one last shot.

Schmitz dropped back to pass and, under pressure, his pass would sail high and incomplete to end the Cyclones comeback hopes and nearly five decades of Ram frustrations.

Glenwood took two snaps in the “Victory” formation to run out the clock.

The Rams finished with a season-high 643 total yards of offense including a whopping 461 on the ground on 53 carries (8.6 yards per carry). Wilwerding threw just nine times but half of his six completions went for TDs including three to Decker, who hauled in five passes for 180 yards. Wilwerding also picked up 108 yards on the ground and a TD.

Faust said his team’s line play – on offense and defense – was the key to the Rams’ success.

“Our front seven and our front five on the offensive line, they dominated they game,” Faust said. We needed them to and they definitely did it. Cole made such good decisions back there and he ran hard.”

Faust also credited the feedback from the Rams’ eyes in the press box, offensive assistant Chris Visser, for the in-game adjustments.

“He had an idea to use some different motions and that really paid off in the second half for us offensively, and allowed us to keep the Harlan defense off balance,” Faust said.

Loeffelbein was the workhorse the Rams needed, carrying 33 times for 265 yards and three TDs – all career highs. He also added four tackles on defense and rarely left the field all game. The senior was quick to credit the play of his offensive line for his and the Rams’ historic offensive output.

“That offensive line worked their butts off tonight,” said a tired Loeffelbein after the game. “Thinking back it was like they were the 1990s Huskers, Pipeline offensive line. That’s what they were looking like.”

Harlan finished with 449 total yards with Schmitz completing 16-of-34 passes for 303 yards and three TDs.

“You have to credit Harlan,” Faust said of the Cyclones making the game a shootout against a Ram defense that had been surrendering nine points per game. “They set a school record for yards last week. They have a very talented group of players.”

The win puts the Rams on a District 7 collision course with Creston, who beat the Cyclones 70-49 a week ago, in Glenwood on Oct. 7. As exciting as a win as it was for Ram program on the upswing, Faust isn’t prepared to let one big win get in the way of season not even half over.

“Anytime you can win its great and obviously the point is to get better but we look at every Friday as a one game season,” Faust said.

Glenwood hosts Denison in its homecoming game Friday at Ram Memorial Field. Kick off is set for 7:30 p.m.

Scoring Summary
G 14 21 07 07 - 49
H  07 14 07 13 - 41

Game Summary
G - Cole Loeffelbein, 1 run (kick good).
H – Deren Schmitz to Joshua Cheek, 7 pass (kick good).
G - Loeffelbein, 57 run (kick good).
G - Kolten Wilwerding, 14 run (kick good).
H - Schmitz to Cheek, 14 pass (kick good).
G - Wilwerding to Mavrick Decker, 74 pass (kick good).
H - Schmitz to Nick Foss, 81 pass (kick good).
G - Wilwerding to Decker, 72 pass (kick good).
G - Wilwerding to Decker, 10 pass (kick good).
H - Foss, 1 run (kick good).
H - Schmitz to Cheek, 27 pass (kick good).
G - Loeffelbein, 4 run (kick good).
H - Foss, 55 run (kick good).