Tri County seizes on Meridian turnovers, rolls to big victory Friday

DAYKIN - It started slow for Tri County.

The Trojans (3-1) got on the board first with a touchdown at the 7:30 mark of the 1st quarter. Meridian had the ball minutes later, driving in Tri County territory and threatening to tie or take the lead.

Hunter Green fumbled, and Tri County scored two plays later. Two plays after that, another Meridian fumble. Two more plays, and Tri County had another touchdown.

Leading 20-0, Meridian then fumbled on a kickoff in the closing seconds of the first quarter, leading to, you guessed it, another Tri County touchdown.

Six turnovers were deadly for Meridian (0-3), as Tri County rolled to a 64-0 win on Friday night at Jim Durflinger Field in Daykin.

Meridian lost three fumbles and threw one interception in the first half. All four giveaways eventually became touchdowns for Tri County. Junior quarterback Cole Siems was seamless, completing 6-of-7 passes through the air for 155 yards and a new career-high four touchdown passes. Siems also rushed for 25 yards and a score, bringing his all-purpose touchdown total to 13 this season.

Siems had touchdown passes of 55 yards to Dominic Smith, 48 to Lucas Weise, 21 to Jack Holsing and six to Grant Lewandowski.

Holsing had big holes to run through all night, ending with 128 rushing yards on 10 carries and two touchdowns. He also had two catches for 28 yards and a score.

In all, five Trojans scored a touchdown Friday. Junior Drew Garrison toted the rock seven times for a season-high 59 yards and a score. Smith ended up with 61 yards rushing and a touchdown - a 45-yard burst in the second quarter.

The Mustangs ended up with just 59 total yards of offense unofficially. Senior Wyatt Haverluck had 19 carries for 66 yards. No other player managed more than five yards of offense.

Tri County, who's beaten their last two opponents by a combined score of 135-8, go back home on Sept. 27 to host HTRS. Meridian goes on the road to face No. 2 Falls City Sacred Heart.

Area scores from Friday:

Class B:

Crete 43 South Sioux City 6. The Cardinals blow out South Sioux for a second straight year.

Norris 42 Blair 22

McCook 21 Beatrice 17

Class C1:

Fairbury 28 Falls City 7. The Jeffs move to 2-2 after rushing for a season-high 350 yards.

Milford 27 Lincoln Lutheran 21

Minden 14 Fillmore Central 0

Class C2:

Wilber-Clatonia 21 Lousiville 0. Career-win number 100 for head coach Lynn Jurgens.

Johnson County Central 28 Yutan 14

Sutton 43 Centennial 35

Sandy Creek 35 Freeman 19

Class D1:

Thayer Central 68 Exeter-Milligan/Friend 50

Southern 20 Palmyra 14

BDS 26 Lourdes Central Catholic 18 (OT). BDS hosts Southern on Sept. 27. That game will be carried on Ol' Red 99.5 FM. Both teams are 3-0.

Class D2:

Johnson-Brock 34 #6 Lawrence-Nelson 26

Six-man:

Eustis-Farnam 49 Deshler 26

BYE: Dorchester, Diller-Odell, Lewiston.

Kansas scores:

Frankfort 74 Doniphan West 52

Marysville 28 Concordia 12

Hanover 66 Rock Hills-Mankato 16

Axtell 60 Onaga 14

LaCrosse 21 Republic County 14

You can follow Tommy on Twitter @Tommy_NCN.