Ethan McNeal ran a kickoff back 86 yards for a touchdown with 20 seconds left to play, lifting Atlantic to a dramatic 35-30 win over Harlan and a spot in the Class 3A Playoffs. That score was the final of four lead changes in the final 2:59 of play, a wild finish that ended with Atlantic students spilling on the field to celebrate the first win over the Cyclones in 23 years.

Atlantic Head Coach Joe Brummer was so grateful for the moment.

The game was a great battle from start to finish. McNeal opened the scoring with a 39-yard rushing score with 3:38 left to go in the first quarter. Harlan responded with 21-unanswered. Brody Bendorf ran one in from 4 yards out, Gabe Arkfeld heaved a 44-yard bomb to Colton Schneider, and Ayden Redmon rounded the corner for a 6-yard score. Atlantic responded with an important score before half though. A 28-yard hookup from Zayden Parker to Brock Goodrich set Atlantic up at the 3 and McNeal plowed in to make it 21-14 at halftime.

Atlantic tied the game with 10:13 to go in the game on a 28-yard fourth down pass from Parker to Zander Killion. Harlan then marched 15-plays down the field and got a 23-yard field goal from Jacob Spangenberg to take a 24-21 lead with 2:59 left. Atlantic answered with two big throws down the left sideline to Shelton Mualia, the last being a 36-yard scoring strike with 1 minute left. The Cyclones then nearly stole the show. Gabe Arkfeld dropped two terrific throws to Cade Nelson to grab the lead back. A 21-yard strike to the right corner of the end zone with :33 seconds left felt like a gut wrencher for Atlantic until McNeal’s return heroics. Coach Brummer loved his team’s drive to keep fighting.

Harlan got three more plays before it was final and on Arkfeld’s last dropback with 2 seconds left Brock Goodrich got home and sacked Arkfeld with help from Jack Muller to seal the win.

The Trojans improved to 6-2 on the season and 4-0 in district 6 play, guaranteeing a spot in the Class 3A playoffs. They’ll face Carroll for the district title next Friday night. We’ll have coverage of that game on KJAN.

Harlan falls to 3-5 on the season and 2-2 in district play, eliminating them from the postseason. The Cyclones will finish their season at home against Greene County next week.