One of the most watched games on Friday night in class 3-A was #6 Ballard’s match-up against #2 Carroll. Both teams knew what the results of the game would mean moving forward in this second half of regular season play. If the game ended with an upset victory, it would have a great effect on the road ahead.
It was a cold night at Ballard’s stadium on Friday for the home game against #2 Carroll but the stadium was packed with excited fans filled with anticipation. The game was one of the hottest games in “Battle of the Top Ten” in class 3-A and featured in Coaches Aid Iowa Game Tracker for Week 7. Both #6 Ballard and #2 Carroll were undefeated in regular seasons play going into Friday night’s game.
The first quarter of the game was intense. Both teams remained scoreless. In the second quarter Carroll’s quarterback Blake Haluska threw a 30-yard pass to Casey Kasperbauer for a touchdown to give the Tigers the lead for the night, 7-0. The Bomber’s quarterback Austin Vier tied the score with a 1-yard run but it would be their only touchdown in the first half.
On its next possession, the Tigers quarterback Blake Haluska had a 42-yard touchdown run to put Carroll up, 14-7, over the Bombers. Before the end of the second half Jordan Thelen, a defensive end for the Tigers, blocked a punt and the Tigers Taylor Berger returned it 5-yards for a touchdown, giving the Tigers a 21-7 lead over Ballard at the end of the first half.
Carroll continued their push with an 81-yard pass from quarterback Blake Haluska to Casey Kasperbauer, to put Carroll up 28-7. The Bombers responded in the fourth quarter with a 4-yard pass from quarterback Austin Vier to Garret Alt for a touchdown, cutting Carroll’s lead to 28-14. The Tigers were able to hold the Bombers, resulting in the 28-14 win over Ballard.
Carroll was able to keep the Bombers Taylor Godwin to 36 carries with only a total of 162 rushing yards and 52 yards receiving for the game with no touchdowns. The Bomber’s quarterback Austin Vier had a total of 15 completed passes for a total of 160 yards and one touchdown pass. Garret Alt had 53 yards with 7 completed receptions.
The Tiger’s quarterback Blake Haluska threw 8 completed passes for 168 yards and also had 11 carries for 87 yards. Casey Kasperbauer had two completed receptions for 111 yards.
As a result of Week 7, Carroll remains ranked #2 and Ballard is now #9 in class 3-A. The Tigers will host unranked Boone on Friday. The Bombers will be on the road against unranked Jefferson-Scranton on Friday.
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