CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — Football can be complex. It also can be frighteningly simple.

Harlan Community coach Curt Bladt made it simple to reporters on Saturday at the UNI-Dome.

“They love their football in Harlan, Iowa,’’ he said. “They love winning, and they love winning the right way, and we try to do that.”

Bladt had just watched his top-rated Cyclones tear apart unrated Pella 35-14 in the Class 3-A championship game.

The state’s most decorated program put more distance between itself and the field, winning its 12th championship (Emmetsburg is second with nine) and its 81st playoff game (Emmetsburg is second with 62). Bladt has been the head man for 11 of those titles (Emmetsburg’s Duane Twait is second with seven).

Harlan had gone four years without a championship, a drought only in Shelby County. Bladt was asked if he wondered whether he’d ever get to the top of the mountain again.

“We always think that,’’ he said. “Because this is tough to do. It’s not easy. I don’t care how good a players you’ve got. Sometimes you screw up and things don’t go right for you, and you get left in the dust.

“To get here and get it done and to get it nailed down is a tremendous accomplishment for these young men.’’

Take another peek at the final score. It wasn’t that close. When the updated statistics were handed out at the end of the third quarter, Harlan had rung up 488 yards of total offense to just 69 for Pella.

The Cyclones scored on five straight possessions, the final four of the first half and the first drive of the second half. Harlan led 35-0 with 6:20 left in the third quarter, setting the continuous clock in motion.

Pella scored on its first march of the fourth, recovered an onside kick, and then scored again to pull within 21 points, 35-14, with 2:28 left in the game. It almost scored again in the final seven seconds. But those attempts were purely cosmetic, for the outcome had long been decided.

“They’re the team that never has a down year in the state of Iowa,’’ Pella coach Jay McKinstrey said. “They’re always there.’’

After a scoreless first quarter, Harlan struck for four touchdowns in a span of 10:45 in the second quarter, with drives covering 70, 79, 57 and 63 yards. Dylan Barrett scored on a pair of 2-yard touchdown runs, Adam Cave caught a 44-yard scoring pass from Michael Kaufmann and Brian Kloewer added a 6-yard TD scamper.

With its 28-0 halftime lead, Harlan held a 353-45 edge in total yards.

Early on, Bladt said some of his assistants noticed the Dutch paying too much attention to Barrett at tailback. Harlan promptly fed the ball to 6-foot-4, 245-pound fullback Matt Hoch, who gashed Pella for 79 rushing yards on only eight carries in the first half.

Hoch’s power running seemed to open every facet of the Cyclone offense.

“It’s a good feeling, knowing we’re going to run a play and they’re not going to stop it,’’ Kaufmann said.

In his lone year as the starting quarterback, Kaufmann capped a magical season, going 9 of 15 through the air for 197 yards with two touchdowns and an interception that came with his team already up 35-0.

Kaufmann led his team to victories against those that had quarterbacks with glossier statistics.

“I’ll just keep him,’’ Bladt said. “He’s kind of the heart and soul of this group. He’s fearless. Honest to God, he is a fearless kid. He loves when the pressure’s on, and that’s when he seems to do his best work.’’

Harlan displayed almost perfect balance. Hoch, an Iowa recruit, finished with 10 carries for 111 yards, while Barrett added 14 carries for 95 yards and the two scores. Kloewer finished with four catches for 101 yards.

The Cyclone defense was equally impressive, never allowing Pella to get comfortable.

Hoch and his family moved to Harlan from Indianola when he was in the fourth grade, attracted primarily by its athletic success.

“It’s tradition — that’s why we came here,’’ he said. “We all knew Coach Bladt and what he could do here. He’s done a great job.’’

Harlan (14-0) 02870—35

Pella (10-4) 00014—14

Harlan: Dylan Barrett 2 run (Trent Wendt kick)

Harlan: Barrett 2 run (Wendt kick)

Harlan: Adam Cave 44 pass from Michael Kaufmann (Wendt kick)

Harlan: Brian Kloewer 6 run (Wendt kick)

Harlan: Kloewer 36 pass from Kaufmann (Wendt kick)

Pella: Brett Bogaard 2 (Blaine Forsythe kick)

Pella: Josh Pringle 10 pass from Forsythe (Forsythe kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING: H, Matt Hoch 10-111, Barrett 14-95, Kaufmann 3-36, Kloewer 3-30, Luke Lansman 1-19, Joe Arentson 1-(-4), Lucas Musich 1-(-5). P, Matt Meyers 9-36, Brett Bogaard 11-17, Andy Vander Broek 1-4, Conner Kelderman 1-1, Blaine Forsythe 12-(-2).

PASSING: H, Kaufmann 9-15-1, 197 yards, 2 TDs. P, Forsythe 15-26-0, 158 yards, 1 TD.

RECEIVING: H, Kloewer 4-101, Cave 1-44, Hoch 1-21, Eric Croghan 2-16, Barrett 1-15. P, Josh Pringle 6-81, Ryan Lanke 3-29, Vander Broek 2-25, Deckar Lynch 1-21, Travis Ewing 1-7, Bogaard 2-(-5).

TACKLES (solos-assists): H, Derek Schwartz 6-1, Alex Brown 4-2, Hoch 3-3, Craig Connell 5-0, Lansman 4-0, Arentson 3-1, Anthony Hough 3-1, Mitch Anderson 2-0, Ryan Fahn 2-0, Joseph Klein 2-0, Alex Markham 2-0, Wendt 2-0, Kloewer 2-0, Dan Schaben 1-1, Dillon Kramer 1-0, Eric Crall 1-0, Tyler Beck 1-0, Marcus Streit 1-0, Taylor Assman 1-0, Ben Bruck 1-0, Michael Klein 1-0.

Contact the writer:

444-1055, kevin.white@owh.com

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