The Hawley Nuggets are as good as advertised.
After playing to the Class 2A state semifinals for three consecutive years, the 2008 Nuggets version could be the best team yet.
The Mahnomen Indians found that the Nuggets will be a team to be reckoned with through the 2008 season, after a 49-12 loss.
"We knew they were a good team," said Mahnomen head coach John Clark Jr. "They got to work right away and never let up."
Big plays were a staple for Hawley's first win Friday, with the first five touchdowns coming from 35 yards or more out.
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The longest came right before halftime on a Beau Sorenson 80-yard pass to Taylor Harms with 12 seconds remaining in the second quarter, to put the Nuggets up 34-0.
Junior running back Nathan Mattson, who was an All-State Honorable Mentioned last year, broke free with runs of 68 and 73 on his way to 205 yards rushing in the game.
The Nuggets opened their scoring with a 50-yard run by Kevin Olson with 8:48 remaining in the first quarter.
Mahnomen's senior quarterback, Logan Handyside was a part of both Indians' touchdowns, the first on a six-yard run in the third quarter and the second on a 16-yard pass to Alex LaVoy.
"We can't doubt the team's effort, they didn't give up," Clark said. "We know the only place to gain experience is on the field. We know we are going to get better."
Hawley outgained Mahnomen by a 604-142 margin in offensive yards, while piling on 447 yards of rushing.
Game results
Hawley 49, Mahnomen 12
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Mahnomen -0 0 6 6 -- 12
Hawley. -13 21 15 0 -- 49
Scoring:
Haw:?Kevin Olson 50-yard run; Patrick Arends kick. 8:48, 1st.
Haw:?Taylor Harms 35-yard pass to Andrew Ulven; kick failed. 3:39, 1st.
Haw:?Nathan Mattson 68-yard run; Kevin Olson kick. 11:30, 2nd.
Haw:?Mattson 73-yard run; kick failed. 7:55, 2nd.
Haw:?Beau Sorenson 80-yard pass to Harms; kick failed. :12. 2nd.
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Haw:?Olson 2-yard run; Arends kick. 11:31, 3rd.
Mah:?Logan Handyside 6-yard run; run failed.
Haw:?Steve Hukriede 19-yard run; Harms kick. 6:46, 3rd.
Mah:?Handyside 16-yard pass to Alex LaVoy; run failed. 5:51, 4th.
Haw Mah
First Downs 16 8
Net Yards Rushing 447 125
Yards Passing 157 17
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No. Passes 8 10
Completed 5 3
Had intercepted 2 0
Total Yards 604 142
Plays from scrimmage 40 44
Fumbles/lost 0/0 1/1
Rushing (att-yds) --?Mah:?Logan Handyside 15-57, Anthony Longfield 7-35, Zach Neis 11-34; Dion DeGroat 1-0...Haw:?Nathan Mattson 7-205; Kevin Olson 7-74; Tanner?Schultz 8-59; Brian Fetting 8-36; Andrew regnier 1-29; Taylor Harms 3-25; Steve Hukriede 2-19.
Passing (comp-att-yds-int-td) -- Mah:?Handyside 3-10-17-1-1...Haw:?Beau Sorenson 4-96-0-1; T. Harms 3-61-0-1.
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Receiving (rec-yds) -- Mah:?Longfield 2-11; Alex LaVoy 1-6..Haw:?Harms 2-90; Andrew Ulven 2-41; Matt Guida 1-26.
