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Hansen, Hersey handle Lincoln-Way West

The big turnout in the Hersey student section on Friday night at Roland Goins Stadium watched a big performance from Huskies quarterback Jordan Hansen.

The senior threw for 272 yards and ran for 120 to help lead the home football team to a 35-21 triumph over Lincoln-Way West.

"He's (Hansen) a great defensive back, too," said Warriors coach Dave Ernst. "We saw him on film from last year. He's got an offer from North Dakota State. He's for real. They don't offer you if you're not tough."

Hansen's offensive line was tough, too.

Tommy Cortese, Austin Korba, Trevor Schutz, Breiler Campbell, Matthew Mysza and Ryan Gudaitis helped pave the way for the Huskies' 458 total yards.

"The O-line held up and our receivers ran good routes," Hansen said. "I just tried delivering the ball."

Hansen delivered 3 TD passes right on the mark and he ran 28 and 2 yards for Hersey's other 2 touchdowns.

"I like them both," Hansen said of passing and running. "Whatever will help the team win."

The Huskies won despite committing 10 penalties that set them back a little more than 100 yards.

"We've got to fix things for next week (vs. Fremd)," Hansen said. "We're looking to come out more prepared."

The Huskies' defense was prepared at the get-go, holding the Warriors scoreless in the first half while Hansen found Ben Clawson crossing through the middle of the field for a 50-yard TD and 7-0 lead.

It capped a six-play, 80-yard drive with 57 seconds left in the first quarter.

The Hersey defense came right back with a three-and-out, and Hansen needed just one play for his second TD toss.

This time it was a 75-yarder that found Jimmy Matanovic crossing the middle of the field for the 14-0 halftime edge.

Hansen's third TD pass found Blake von der Lippe wide open up the middle as he raced 37 yards for a 21-7 lead with 3:41 left in the third quarter.

Hersey gained its biggest lead at 28-7 when Hansen completed a 64-yard drive with a 2-yard scamper off right tackle.

"He (Hansen) definitely led us tonight," said Hersey coach Joe Pardun. "So we were really proud of his effort with that.

"It's funny, he gets those (passing and rushing yards) in such a sleek way you almost don't notice it. And that's a compliment to him. That's what Jordan does for us."

Max McCall did all the extra-point kicking for Hersey, converting on all five.

"You wait so so long for this day, and then it flies by," Pardun said of the season opener. "That was a physical football game, a good challenge for our guys. We knew it would be coming in.

"We let them back in the game a little bit there in the second half Credit to them. We weren't really clicking tonight."

Ernst said the Warriors had a lot of players competing in their first varsity game.

"And we made countless mistakes," he added. "But it's all correctable. I'm not taking anything away from Hersey. That's a good team and we knew that. They had eight returning starters on defense and it showed. They didn't make mistakes and we made them on offense."

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