Jeff West 16, Hiawatha 14

Entering the week five homecoming game after a tough 0-4 start to the season, the Jeff West Tigers scored a pair of touchdown and huge two-point conversions in the second quarter to knock off Hiawatha 16-14 on Friday night in Meriden.  The Redhawks (3-2) had 140 more yards of offense and ran 13 more plays, but were plagued by a pair of turnovers and nine costly penalties for a total of 95 yards.  

Both offenses struggled early before HIawatha took a 7-0 lead on an 11 yard TD run by quarterback, Joseph Kunkel, who also kicked the PAT before the end of the first quarter.  Jeff West put together their own 10-play drive to start the second stanza and Hunter Dean ran in a two-yard score as well as the conversion run for an 8-7 lead.  On the next possession, Dean intercepted a Hiawatha pass and the Tigers capitalized on a short 38 yard drive with Bryce Clements rushing for a one-yard score, just 1:14 before halftime.  Quinn Neuenswander found Dean for the two-point conversion to make it 16-7 at the break.  

The Redhawks recovered a well executed onside kick to start the second half and on their first offensive play, cut the deficit to 16-14 on a 52 yard touchdown run by Kunkel and the PAT just 12 seconds into the third quarter.  HIawatha had more opportunities but after converting on a fourth down and 11 play, their 15-play drive stalled on downs at the Tiger 30-yard line with 4:18 remaining.  Yet, the Redhawks defense forced a three and out, only to have a critical roughing the punter penalty give Jeff West a first down with 2:18 left in the game.  The Hawks used a pair of timeouts and got help from a Tiger incomplete pass to get the ball back in the final minute, but could not get in field goal position.  

Hiawatha had 281 yards of offense including 228 on the ground and averaged 5.7 yards per carry, but was continuously penalized at inopportune times, including seven flags for 80 yards in the second half alone.  Kunkel ran for 152 yards on 17 carries while Colin Sample added 64 yards rushing on 11 totes.  

Jeff West managed only 141 yards of total offense in the contest, but had no turnovers and only five penalties for 35 yards in their first win of the season.  The Tigers continued to change quarterbacks throughout the game with freshman Neuenswander completing just two of eight passes for nine yards.  Dean was the Citizens State Bank and Trust Company "Player to Bank On" with 90 yards rushing on 16 carries while freshman, Bryce Clements added 27 yards on 14 tries.  Jeff West had one other second half drive that stalled on down at the Redhawk 25 yard line.  Freshman, Kauli Saili was named the "Lineman of the Game," sponsored by the Denison State Banks for his work on both sides of the line of scrimmage and Kyan Petecsh was also strong, especially early, on the defensive line as the Hawks struggled to run between the tackles.     

In the final tune-up before District play, Hiawatha returns to host Holton for homecoming while Jeff West plays at Royal Valley next week.