103.9 KNZA broadcast - Royal Valley at Hiawatha - click here to listen 

Four turnovers hurt Hiawatha and Royal Valley rallies for 28 straight second half points to secure a 35-28 opening night road win.  

After being shocked 21-0 in a home loss to open the high school football season a year ago, it looked like Royal Valley was in trouble again on Friday night in Hiawatha.  The Redhawks scored 16 straight points before halftime, including a touchdown with 29 seconds remaining in the second quarter to take a 16-7 lead.  Royal Valley did not have a first down in the second quarter and was stopped twice on fourth and short in their own territory, which set up scores.  Hiawatha proceeded to chew up five minutes on the opening drive of the third stanza and scored on a 13-play-drive to take a 22-7 lead.  Yet, the Panthers rallied with 28 consecutive points of their own, taking advantage of three Hiawatha turnovers and going ahead 35-22 with 4:50 to go in the game.  The Hawks scored on a quick 40-yard pass just moments later to pull within 35-28, but didn’t get the ball back as Royal Valley converted on a third and fourth and short situation to hold on for the win. 

The Panthers opened the scoring on the final play on the first quarter as Dillon Smith ran for a two-yard touchdown on a fourth and goal to take a 7-0 lead.  The drive was sparked by a 51 yard run from quarterback Gavin Cumpton.  Hiawatha got on the board with a 24-yard field goal by Michael Moreno then quarterback Tyler Brockoff tossed a pair of touchdown passes to Moreno (14 yards) and Kaiser Isaac (21 yards) to take momentum.  Brockoff found Sage Meyer on a nine yard TD strike in the third quarter to cap a 22-0 run and finished completing 14 of 25 passes for 179 yards and four scores.  Isaac had 72 yards receiving while Moreno had 81 and hauled in a pair of touchdowns.  Moreno added 72 yards rushing while Manuel Flores added 44 and Andrew Woods ran for 72 yards as well.  All three of those key playmakers however went out in the third quarter with leg cramps when Royal Valley started to mound their comeback. 

Hiawatha had 378 total yards but turned the football over four times, including three straight drives in the third quarter, the last fumble was at the goal line as they were driving to score trailing 29-22.  Royal Valley went 80 yards to cap their fourth touchdown of the second half while running just 21 total plays and the Panthers had no turnovers on the night.  Royal Valley totaled 387 yards, all but eight coming on the ground.  Citizens State Bank and Trust Company of Hiawatha “Player to Bank On,” Dillon Smith led the way with 17 carries for 137 yards and two touchdowns while Chance Lyming had 90 yards on five carries and a score. Cumpton chipped in 71 yards on the ground and Brandon Rodewald had 69 yards on 15 totes to complete a very balanced offensive attack.  Senior Brian Shane played a big role on defense for Royal Valley and also centered the offensive line to earn “Lineman of the Game” honors from the Denison State Banks.