HOSTILE TERRITORY

Titans’ offense sputters in slugfest with Pocahontas Area, 7-0

It’s not often when the South Central Calhoun football team encounters a setback in the regular season. It’s rare when the Titans run into trouble in putting up points.

Both happened when SCC dropped its nondistrict contest against Pocahontas Area by a final score of 7-0, which took place last Friday at the PAC Athletics Complex in Pocahontas.

Despite the game being relatively even on the ground – as SCC had 146 yards to the Indians’ 153 yards – the Titans were unable to break out for any large runs and couldn’t muster a passing game.

When the clock struck zeroes, not only did the Indians score their first victory over the Titans since the South Central Calhoun football program was formed in 2010, but the Titans were also shut out for the first time since Sept. 6, 2013.

While SCC dipped down to 1-1 so far in the 2021 campaign, the Indians improved to 2-0.

The Titans will look to shake off the setback, hosting Emmetsburg at 7 p.m. on Friday evening at Titan Stadium in Lake City. The E-Hawks (0-2) fell to Southeast Valley, 46-21, at Duane Twait Field in Emmetsburg.

It will be the first meeting between the Titans and E-Hawks.

Pocahontas Area will welcome in Sioux Central to the PAC Athletics Complex on Friday evening. The Rebels (1-1) fell to South O’Brien, 14-8, last Friday in Paullina.

The game’s lone score came with 5:29 left in the first period, when Pocahontas Area quarterback Chase Boysen plunged into the endzone from one yard out on a fourth and goal. Setting up the touchdown was a short field, as a live punt bounced off of a Titan player before PAC’s Brandon Lenz fell on the ball.

SCC attempted to knot up the game with 7:32 left in the second quarter, as the Titans drove to the Indians’ nine-yard line. On a fourth and three, junior quarterback Kevin King fired a pass toward senior wideout Josh Dietrich in the corner of the endzone.

The ball zipped through Dietrich’s hands for an incompletion, as the Titans turned over the ball on downs.

Several minutes later, sophomore Gavin Batta won a 50-50 ball with Lenz, resulting in a crucial interception. However, the Titans were unable to capitalize on the turnover, and at halftime, the Indians held onto a 7-0 lead.

The Titans again threatened to score toward the end of the third quarter, as SCC drove to the Indians’ 34-yard line. Senior running back Blake McAlister veered to his left, before looking downfield for a halfback pass.

McAlister located Dietrich near the goal line and chucked up the ball for the six foot, six inch receiver. Lenz battled for the ball with Dietrich, forcing the wideout to lose grip on the football.

With time ticking away in the fourth quarter, the Titans went into desperation mode. On a fourth and long in Indian territory, Batta fired a pass toward McAlister in the middle of the field.

Right as the ball connected with McAlister’s hands, PAC defender Chase Cook knocked the pigskin away. From there, the Indians ran out the clock and handed the Titans their first loss of the season.

McAlister led the Titans by rushing for 82 yards on 14 carries, followed by senior Jayden Soard’s 39 yards on 11 attempts. Sophomore Zach Trott had 15 yards on four rushing attempts.

Batta captured one interception, while McAlister racked up eight and a half tackles.

Junior Chance Roeder collected five and a half tackles, while teammate Waylen Gemberling supplied four and a half tackles. Sophomore Brock Nattress had five tackles, including two tackles for a loss.

Soard turned in three tackles before leaving due to a foot injury, alongside senior Tony Sanders’ three tackles. Senior Kolten Hildreth recorded two and a half tackles, including one and a half for a loss.

Pocahontas Area 7, South Central Calhoun 0

SCC     0           0          0          0          –          0

PAC     7          0          0          0          –          7

First Quarter

PAC – Chase Boysen 1 run (Kolbe Rutherford kick), 5:29.

Second Quarter

N/A

Third Quarter

N/A

Fourth Quarter

N/A

                                    SCC                PAC

First Downs                  10                   12

Rushing Yards              143                 153

Passing Yards               3                      39

Total Yards                   146                  192

C-A-I                             1-11-0              5-11-1

Punts-Avg. Yards          3-44.3              5-28.4

Penalties-Yards             3-20                 3-25

Fumbles-Lost                 1-1                   0-0

SCC INDIVIDUAL STATS:

RUSHING – Blake McAlister 14-82, Jayden Soard 11-39, Zach Trott 4-15, Kevin King 6-4, Cody Thompson 1-3, Gavin Batta 2-0.

PASSING – King 1-6-0-3, McAlister 0-1-0-0, Batta 0-4-0-0.

RECEIVING – Soard 1-3.

DEFENSIVE LEADERS – Batta one interception; McAlister 8.5 tackles, 1 TFL; Chance Roeder 5.5 tackles; Waylen Gemberling 4.5 tackles, 1.5 TFL; Brock Nattress 5 tackles, 2 TFL; Soard 3 tackles; Tony Sanders 3 tackles; Kolten Hildreth 2.5 tackles, 1 TFL.