HARLAN (Oct. 11) -- One week after losing the 2019 season opener vs. Lewis Central 35-7, Sergeant Bluff-Luton football coach Justin Smith was asked to compare this year’s LC team to the 2018 state semifinalist version. Are they as good as last year? “Uh, they’re better,” Smith replied. “They’re better at every position but quarterback and that quarterback is still a really good player.

 AVOCA (Oct.

 MONDAMIN (Oct. 4) -- Creighton Nelson rushed for 136 yards and four touchdowns and also caught a TD pass last Friday night as the Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton football team got back to .500 with a 50-14 victory at West Harrison. The Spartans improved to 3-3 overall and 2-2 in 8-Man, District 8, good for fourth place in the standings.

 GLENWOOD (Oct.

 AVOCA (Oct. 4) -- Earlham senior Caleb Swalla rushed for 231 yards and four touchdowns on 31 carries Friday night as Earlham won its fifth straight game with a commanding 47-10 victory at AHSTW. The Cardinals, whose only loss came in Week 1 against third-ranked (1A) Van Meter, improved to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in Class A, District 9.

 MANSON (Oct.

 ELK HORN (Oct. 3) -- The Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton volleyball team erased an 0-2 deficit in thrilling fashion Thursday night with a 19-25, 15-25, 25-21, 26-24, 15-11 home win over West Harrison. The Spartans improved to 5-19 overall and 2-4 in the Rolling Valley Conference. Both RVC victories have come in five sets.

 HARLAN -- Members of the 1979 Harlan Community fall softball team - a state runner-up - were recognized at Merrill Field prior to the Cyclones’ September 27 Homecoming football game against ADM. The 1979 Cyclonettes, coached by Russ Gallinger and Sue Fowler, were the final fall softball team in school history and went out with a bang.

 COUNCIL BLUFFS -- Three student-athletes from Harlan Community High School are competing this fall for the Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln girls swim team, also known as the CB Swim Team.

 GLENWOOD (Oct. 4) -- For the second straight week, the Harlan Community football team will face a Class 3A, District 9 foe with the exact same record and playoff aspirations as the Cyclones. Last week it was 3-1 Adel-DeSoto-Minburn. This Friday it’s Glenwood. The Cyclones and Rams - both 4-1 overall and 1-0 in district play - will square off at 7:00 p.m.

 RED OAK (Oct. 1) - The Harlan Community volleyball team suffered its third Hawkeye Ten sweep of the season Tuesday night but did show signs of improvement in a 16-25, 18-25, 11-25 loss at 9th-ranked (3A) Red Oak. The host Tigers finished with an excellent kill efficiency of .300, led by 12 kills from Chloe Johnson and 10 from Sophie Walker, and improved to 16-5 overall and 4-1 in conference play.

 AVOCA (Oct.

 MANNING (Sept. 26) -- The IKM-Manning volleyball team picked up its first Western Iowa Conference win of the season last Thursday night with a sweep of Audubon, winning 25-19, 25-19, 25-22. The Wolves improved to 5-16 overall and 1-4 in the WIC. “Tonight we played well as a team.

 HARLAN (Sept.