EUSTIS – In a game that consisted of nine turnovers and nearly 200 yards of penalties, it was South Loup who did enough to beat Hi-Line 35-14 Friday afternoon.
Hi-Line got off to a fast start, scoring on their opening drive after Asher Hecox scampered for a 55 yard touchdown run. On the ensuing drive, the Bulls defense would then force a South Loup fumble where Hi-Line would recover. However, the Bulls gave it right back to the Bobcats five plays later, fumbling it themselves. That was all South Loup needed. The Bobcats would then go on to score and never looked back, finding the endzone on four straight drives. South Loup’s Conner Paulsen shined as he would find the endzone four times in the first half. In between all the Bobcat scoring, they would cough up the ball two more times while Hi-Line gave it away one more time in the half, struggling to move the ball on offense. South Loup would lead 26-7 at the half.
The second half saw three more turnovers by South Loup and little offensive movement by either team. Paulsen would find the endzone one more time. Hi-Line scored their second touchdown in the fourth quarter after a fumble from South Loup at the one yard line. Traevyn Koch took it 79 yards for the touchdown.
Despite the six turnovers, South Loup used a heavy running game to guide them to the win. Paulsen ran for 120 yards, four rushing touchdowns and a receiving score. AJ Starr added 71 yards on the ground. Through the air, Dylan Pandorf was 2-8 for 75 yards, three interceptions and one passing touchdown. The Bobcats would run for 208 total yards and commit seven penalties for 75 yards. Hi-Line only mustered 147 yards of total offense. Hecox led the team with 79 yards rushing. Brody Diefenbaugh was 4-11 for 34 yards through the air while Kane Cochrane went 1-5 for two yards. He also grabbed three interceptions on defense. The Bulls committed eight penalties for 85 yards.
Hi-Line falls to 0-2 and will host Ravenna next. South Loup improves to 2-0 and hosts Perkins County.
Listen to the game below.
