HLV routs Springville in prep football opener

VICTOR – HLV's Dalton Kriegel expects an entertaining senior season.

If the opening game was any indication, Kriegel and the Warriors are in for an enjoyable campaign.

HLV gave its fans plenty to cheer about, posting a dominant 51-3 win over Springville Thursday night in 8-player competition. The Warriors scored on the third play from scrimmage and never looked back

'It's going to lead into a pretty successful season,' Kriegel said. 'We're going to have fun. We always have fun together as a team. It's going to be a blast to have one last season with these guys.'

HLV (1-0) made a statement early. On its first possession, Kriegel ran off right tackle for a 37-yard touchdown. Wyatt Kaplan added a two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead in the early moments of the game.

The defense provided a punch after Springville drove inside the HLV 1 on its first drive. The Orioles were denied an answer, getting dropped for two straight losses and turning the ball over on downs.

'It increased our confidence a lot, knowing we can stop them and do whatever we need to score,' HLV running back and linebacker Nate VanBuren said. 'I think that sparked us more than anything,'

HLV built a 38-0 lead at halftime and allowed just one fourth-down conversion after the opening drive until Springville's James Fitzgerald connected on a 34-yard field goal late in the fourth.

HLV Coach Kevin Smith said he expected a spirited Springville team to present a challenge. The Warriors responded and adapted to what worked.

'We just wanted to come out that first series and see what we could establish offensively,' Smith said. 'If we can break the big play, we'll take it. If it's a case where we have to pound it down the field, we'll try that.

'Defensively, we made a couple adjustments. The kids stepped up to make big plays and kept them out of the end zone.'

The Warriors had a balanced offense, using Kriegel, VanBuren and Wyatt Kaplan to pull away from the Orioles (0-1). They helped the team amass 337 rushing yards. They praised the offensive line.

'They were a big part of this team, returning every single lineman,' VanBuren said. 'They know what they're doing.'

Kriegel, who also had 91 yards passing, led the way with 145, adding a 65-yard run in the second quarter. VanBuren rushed for 100 yards, scoring on runs of 35 and 23 yards. He reeled in a 37-yard screen pass for a TD from Kriegel with 25 seconds left in the first half.

Kaplan demonstrated his speed, bolting through the line on 3rd and 1 for a 44-yard TD run and finishing with 95 yards on the ground.

'We have everything that we need,' VanBuren said. 'We have a good passer and Dalton can run, I will do whatever the coaches need me to do and Wyatt is good getting outside.'

The three-prong attack is exactly what Smith likes to see. He wants to make it tough on opposing defenses, preventing them from keying on one player or play.

'I don't want that one kid and the target is on him,' Smith said. 'I want you to have to defend three guys and the whole field. You can have balance and it doesn't always have to be run and pass.'

The Warriors are coming off an 11-2 season, reaching the 2014 state semifinals. Kriegel wants to soothe the sting of that playoff loss, capping off the year with a better finish.

'It was a heartbreaker,' Kriegel said. 'I definitely want to go a step further and get a state title.

'It's going to be tough we know. We have to work hard, but we think we can get there.'

The Orioles were led by Henry Hoogland, who rushed for 65 yards. Cavanaugh Riley rushed for 38 yards and threw for 22 for Springville.

AT VICTOR

HLV 51, SPRINGVILLE 3

 

SPR

HLV

First Downs

    8

   13

Rushes-yards

 43-138

  31-337

Passing yards

   38

    91

Comp-Att-TD-INT

6-14-0-38

7-11-0-91

Total yards

   176

   428

Fumbles-lost

   4-1

   1-0

Punts-avg.

 1-40.0

  2-28.0

Penalties

  5-25

  6-42

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Springville 0 – 0 – 0 – 3 ----- 3

HLV 16 – 22 – 6 –7 ----- 51

INDIVIDUAL STATS

RUSHING – Springville: Henry Hoogland 17-65, Seth Blake 13-45, Cavanaugh Riley 8-38, Jacob Loehr 2-2, Team 3-(-12); HLV: Dalton Kriegel 6-145, Nate VanBuren 9-100, Wyatt Kaplan 11-95, Brandon Schafbuch 1-5, Mitch Thys 1-(-1), Owen Van Waus 2-(-6), Team 1-(-1).

PASSING – Springville: Loehr 5-11-0-16, Riley 1-3-0-22; HLV: Kriegel 7-11-0-91.

RECEIVING – Springville: Loehr 1-22, Andy Hagensick 2-13, Blake 1-5, Hoogland 1-3, Team 1-(-5); HLV: VanBuren 4-66, Kaplan 2-15, Dakota Newton 1-10.

SCORING SUMMARY

HLV – Kriegel 37 run (Kaplan run)

HLV – VanBuren 35 run (Kaplan run)

HLV – Kaplan 44 run (run failed)

HLV – Kriegel 65 run (VanBuren run)

HLV – VanBuren 37 pass from Kriegel (Kriegel run)

HLV – VanBuren 23 run (pass failed)

HLV – Kaplan 5 run (Thys kick)

S – FG James Fitzgerald 34

l Comments: (319) 368-8679; kj.pilcher@thegazette.com