Galetich, a defensive back, tripped over his own feet and went to the turf as Madrid dropped back to pass in a 14-14 game with a little more than 5 minutes remaining in the third quarter at Taylor Field Friday night. But rather than lick his wounds, he quickly got to his feet, eyed an open Tiger coming out of the backfield and made his move.

The rest is pick-6 history.

Galetich jumped the route and picked off a Logan Wickers pass for his third interception of the season. From there it was a quick sprint to the end zone for a 40-yard touchdown return and the start of a 30-0 second-half South Hamilton surge in a 44-14 blowout win over Madrid on homecoming.

“It was a huge play and that really was the point where things broke wide open,” South Hamilton head coach Corey Klemp said. “It was a tremendous play by (Galetich) and he’s really played solid all year. Him falling down, that might have actually worked to our benefit because the quarterback might have read the area and didn’t see anybody there.”

South Hamilton halfback and homecoming king Sam Lewis (2) dives ahead for extra yards during the second half against Madrid at Taylor Field in Jewell Friday night. The Hawks improved to 4-1 with a 44-14 victory. DFJ photo/Tracy Runneberg

And it was just the beginning.

South Hamilton (4-1, 1-0 Class 1A District 2) rushed for three touchdowns over the final 141⁄2 minutes to put Madrid (0-5, 0-1) away for good. A dominant half by the Hawks’ offensive line, not to mention punishing blocks from the running backs, led to large gains and points going on the scoreboard.

“Our physicality really came to life (in the second half),” Klemp said. “We had backs that were wanting to lead block rather than carry … DJ Klonglan just had an unreal second half with some of the lead blocks he put on and our line really stepped up. Teagan Risetter had a real great second half with his line play.”

Madrid had no answer for the Hawks’ halfbacks — homecoming king Sam Lewis and Klonglan. Together they combined for 252 rushing yards and averaged 11 yards per tote.

Lewis mauled Madrid for a career-high 177 yards and one touchdown on 17 carries. Klonglan picked up 75 yards on just six lugs and also reached the end zone once.

The Hawks’ Trevor Thompson (25) hits Madrid running back Alex Biegger (43) and causes a fumble on Friday in Jewell. DFJ photo/Tracy Runneberg

Trevor Thompson scored a pair of touchdowns for the Hawks and accrued 44 yards on 12 attempts. All 296 of South Hamilton’s yards came on the ground.

“We were taking what they were giving us and the balance is huge,” Klemp said. “Everyone out of the backfield played really well throughout.”

Lewis broke off a 25-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter to give the Hawks a 30-14 lead. Thompson bulled his way in from the 3 with 8:16 remaining in the contest and Klonglan capped the victory off with a 33-yard sprint to paydirt with 4:10 left on the clock.

It was in stark contrast to the first half when Madrid gave South Hamilton everything it wanted and then some.

The Tigers seized the lead on a 16-yard toss from Wickers to Jacob Loew with 3:57 showing on the clock in the first quarter. South Hamilton was able to regain control on the final play of the period when quarterback Cole Berg got loose for a 28-yard jaunt to the house.

South Hamilton quarterback Cole Berg whips a pass towards the end zone during Friday’s 44-14 victory over Madrid in Jewell. DFJ photo/Tracy Runneberg

Thompson made it 14-6 South Hamilton with 2:40 left before the half on a 2-yard plunge, but Madrid knotted it with just 40 seconds remaining on a 3-yard run by Alex Biegger.

The Tigers entered the game with four blowout losses, but Klemp says they had been solid in the first half in each of the setbacks and Friday was no different.

“If you really look at some of Madrid’s scores, they were the No. 2 or No. 3 rushing team in the state entering the game and typically had real tight halftime scores,” he said. “And when you play someone that is kind of a mirror-image of yourself in what you run, it takes a little longer to shake some things loose. But at halftime we challenged (the players) a little bit and they kind of knew what they had to take care of and what was on the line.”

Galetich also recovered a fumble in the win. Lewis and Dominic Summers led the Hawks’ defense with eight tackles each, and Thompson recorded six.

South Hamilton will face its toughest challenge of the season this Friday night when it hosts fourth-ranked and unbeaten South Central Calhoun (5-0, 1-0) in district play. The Titans thumped Ogden, 54-0, Friday night.

DFJ photo/Tracy Runneberg

South Hamilton 44, Madrid 14

Friday at Jewell

Madrid 6 8 0 0 — 14

South Hamilton 8 6 16 14 — 44

First Quarter

MAD — Jacob Loew 16 pass from Logan Wickers (pass failed), 3:57.

SH — Cole Berg 28 run (Sam Lewis run), 0:00.

Second Quarter

SH — Trevor Thompson 2 run (pass failed), 2:40.

MAD — Alex Biegger 3 run (pass good), 0:40.

Third Quarter

SH — Brock Galetich 40 INT return (Berg run), 5:08.

SH — Lewis 25 run (Berg run), 2:26.

Fourth Quarter

SH — Thompson 3 run (kick failed), 8:16.

SH — DJ Klonglan 33 run (Zeke Balderas run), 4:10.

Individual Statistics

Rushing — SH: Sam Lewis 17-177, DJ Klonglan 6-75, Trevor Thompson 12-44, Trevor Meyers 1-7, Cade Flaugh 1-3, Preston Stoecker 1-(-1), Cole Berg 6-(-9).

Passing — SH: Berg 0-2-0 0.

Tackles — SH: Lewis 8, Dominic Summers 8, Thompson 6, Brandyn Feighner 51⁄2, Jeremiah Smith 5, Klonglan 4, Teagan Risetter 4, Nathan Wilson 31⁄2, Flaugh 3, Jacob Kooker 2, Lane Swenson 2, Berg 11⁄2, Aaron Snider 11⁄2, Jaydon Williams 11⁄2, Zeke Balderas 1, Austin Busch 1, Brock Galetich 1, Freddie Lewis 1⁄2.

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