West Sioux makes the most of its limited opportunities to defeat Hawks
In an early-season showdown between playoff teams from a year ago, Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn was successful in limiting the number of offensive possessions West Sioux would have during the night. Unfortunately for HMS, the only time the Falcons did not score on one of their possessions was when they took a knee to end the first half. The Hawks turned the ball over twice (one interception and one fumble) and had two big plays erased by penalties. In the end, it all added up to a 38-18 West Sioux victory in the non-district game played August 26 at Hawarden.
Brady Lynott had a big night for the Class 1A Falcons. The senior running back scored all five of his team’s touchdown. Following a rushing TD on West Sioux’s first possession, he was on the receiving end of four scoring tosses from fellow senior Dylan Wiggins. Omar Rivera banged through all five of his extra-point kicks and, for good measure, added a 27-yard field goal to close out the scoring.
The Falcons made a living out of turning short passes into big gains. “Defensively, when we make them catch the ball in front of us, it’s really important that we’re physical to it and that we make the tackle within a respectable gain,” said Hawk head coach Jay Eilers. “We want to close the gap and make the tackles when we let the ball be in front of us.”
HMS, a Class A team, punted once in the game. It came on their opening possession after Ethan Diehm’s kickoff return was wiped out by a blocking penalty. West Sioux capped its initial drive with Lynott’s rushing score. The Hawk’s ball control formula paid off when Travis Kamradt ran two yards up the middle to finish of a nearly 11-minute drive. A poor snap on the attempt to kick the extra-point resulted in a pass attempt which was overthrown in the end zone.
HMS answered the next Falcon score more quickly. Quarteback Kooper Ebel got loose for a 68-yard touchdown scamper. Kamradt was stopped just short on his try for two points. The Hawks fell behing by two scores again but had the ball deep in West Sioux territory in the waning seconds of the half. Tanner Lynott then came up with an interception for the Falcons after battling Kamradt and Ryan Borden for the football.
Eilers is a firm believer that high school football comes down to seven plays in a game, and even fewer the closer one gets to the playoffs. “In the first half I felt that we had three plays that we just mis-assigned by alignment,” said the coach. He cited in particular a hook-and-latteral play that turned into a big gain, setting up the Falcons’ first score, and a 23-yard touchdown pass which beat the defense over the top. Added Eilers, “We never know when those seven plays are, but how those seven plays play out usually dictates what that scoreboard says.”
The Hawks had another drive of nearly 11 minutes which bled over in the the fourth quarter. A one-yard plunge by Trenton Vollink cut the deficit to 28-18. “We have guys willing to be phenomenal teammates, phenomenal blockers when the ball’s not in their hands, which definitely allowed us to be ball control and be a physical offense,” praised Eilers. “I’m very proud of our offense.” The visitors’ attempt to make it a one-score game was foiled when a two-point pass intended for Ethan Wiersma was broken up in the end zone. “I thought the two-point conversion play was a very good play,” said Eilers. “From the physicality of running the ball to play action pass with that slip tight end was a great call. Their kid made a nice play and just took that two-point away from us.”
West Sioux scored a final touchdown with 8:20 remaining. A late fumble set up the Falcon field goal.
Up Next: HMS hits the road again this Friday to open up District play against Gehlen Catholic. The Jays traveled to Orange City last Friday and came away with a 21-13 non-district win over Unity Christian. When he looks at the Jays’ offense, the HMS head man sees nothing but good things. “They’ll have one of the fastest kids on the field in (Keaton) Bonderson,” noted Eilers. “Their o-line is going to be very good. I think Gehlen Catholic’s quarterback (senior Conner Kraft) is phenomenal. I think he’s a great football player. He just does a tremendous job. I know we’re going to have our hands full with them next week.” Eilers didn’t know a lot about Gehlen’s defense with the game a week out, but he does know about his team’s offense. “We want to be physical week in and week out no matter who our opponent is,” said the Hawk head man. “We want to out-physical them. The way we practice will allow us to do that, in my opinion. We’ve got to do it.” Game time is 7:00 p.m. Friday, September 2 at the Le Mars Community School field.
HMS 0 12 0 6 – 18
WS 7 14 7 7 – 35
First Quarter
4:44 WS – Brady Lynott 2 yard run (Omar Rivera kick) 0-7
Second Quarter
5:55 HMS – Travis Kamradt 2 yard run (2 pt pass failed) 6-7
5:07 WS – Lynott 23 yard pass from Dylan Wiggins (Rivera kick) 6-14
3:56 HMS – Kooper Ebel 68 yard run (2 pt run failed) 12-14
2:51 WS – Lynott 43 yard pass from Wiggins (Rivera kick) 12-21
Third Quarter
9:21 WS – Lynott 21 yard pass from Wiggins (Rivera kick) 12-28
Fourth Quarter
10:36 HMS – Trenton Vollink 1 yard run (2pt pass failed) 18-28
8:20 WS – Lynott 19 yard pass from Wiggins (Rivera kick) 18-35
1:46 WS – Rivera 27 yard FG 18-38