It was a good team win. We found some areas of need that we needed to improve on last week and put the emphasis on that this week. I told the team in the huddle I’ve been through a lot of Cyclone victories over the last 25 years, but it feels different being the head guy. It’s pretty special to get that first win out of the way.”

Coach Shawn Burkart

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The Cyclones host Wright on Friday at 6 p.m.

YODER – The Southeast High School Cyclones hit the ground running for week one of the high school football season, defending the home field against the Big Piney Punchers in a 30-8 victory.

A coordinated Southeast offense scored two touchdowns in the first half while a gritty Cyclones defense shut out Big Piney to establish a 14-0 halftime lead. 

The Cyclones scored two additional touchdowns in the third quarter while the Southeast defense again closed ranks to prevent the Punchers from scoring.

Southeast topped off scoring in the fourth quarter with a field goal kicked in by junior Beaux Shimic. 

“It was a good team win,” coach Shawn Burkart said. “We found some areas of need that we needed to improve on last week and put the emphasis on that this week. I told the team in the huddle I’ve been through a lot of Cyclone victories over the last 25 years, but it feels different being the head guy. It’s pretty special to get that first win out of the way.”

Burkart was pleased with the team’s effort at the first home game on an especially hot afternoon.

“Our linebackers, as a whole, played solid today,” Burkart added. “Ayden Shimic, Kannon Tippetts and Chase Sauer had some nice catches. Ayden Desmond did amazing things today at quarterback. T.J. Moats had a great game and is a heck of a defensive end. Carter Blevins played his first game as running back – you could just see the improvement he showed throughout the game. Liam Haas came in and did nice things for us.”

A solid Southeast defense shut down Big Piney on the Puncher’s first run of the game, including tackles by Blevins and senior Emmett Coxbill. Moats took down a Puncher for loss while a tackle by senior Titus Boyd resulted in a turnover on downs.

Taking possession, Desmond completed a pass to Beaux Shimic. Blevins steadily chewed up yards on several plays before Desmond kept the ball and drove into the end zone for the Cyclones first touchdown.

A good kick by Beaux Shimic placed Southeast up, 7-0.

The Cyclones D-line prevented Big Piney from reaching the red zone on the Puncher’s next drive. Haas wrapped up a Puncher behind the line of scrimmage, forcing Big Piney to punt.

Southeast scored again early in the second quarter. Blevins took the handoff from Desmond and churned six yards into the end zone.

Beaux Shimic kicked the extra point between the goalposts and Southeast led, 14-0.

The Punchers took possession, but were met by tackles from Blevins, junior Chase Sauer and senior William Knowlton. Desmond picked off a pass for a touch back and Southeast remained ahead, 14-0, at halftime.

Hitting the ground running in the third quarter, Southeast scored on its first drive when Blevins charged into the end zone for touchdown No. 3.

The Cyclones’ D-line – led by tackles from freshman Turek Thompson, Haas, Tippetts and Moats – shut down Big Piney’s first drive of the second half.

Gaining possession, the Cyclones scored touchdown No. 4. Blevins took the handoff from Desmond and charged up the middle into the end zone. A good kick by Beaux Shimic placed Southeast up, 27-0.

Desmond broke up a pass on Big Piney’s opening drive in the fourth quarter, forcing a turnover on downs.

The Cyclones’ second string entered the fray in the fourth quarter.

Overall, Southeast tallied 171 yards rushing with Blevins accounting for 123 yards. Desmond completed 11 of 16 passes for 194 yards.

On defense, Desmond posted nine tackles and one interception. Sauer totaled seven tackles with six apiece from Ayden Shimic and Haas. Sophomore Connor Coxbill recovered a fumble by Big Piney.