September 19, 2008 vs. Algona
'MOUSE OVER' a picture for its caption
Webster City plays flat against Algona and pays the
price
Lynx offense stumbles on critical plays and defense allows Bulldogs massive rushing yards
(Webster City)
Coming off an impressive victory against
Forest City during the first week of District play on September 12, the Webster City Lynx had everything going for them headed into their bout with
the Algona Bulldogs including--among many things--momentum for the season and a
chance to improve their record to 3-1 overall and 2-0 in the District. The
hype was there, the crowd was there, heck--even WHO TV Channel 13 and their
helicopter were there. So, what happened? Instead of the victory
that the 2008 players had all prepared for, a 39-14 defeat by the
Bulldogs (3-1, 1-1) was the final result.
"We're going to flush this one real quick," said Head Coach Bob Howard, "no one around is pleased with what happened but there's no sense in dwelling on it. Every game we play (in the District) is a big one so right now we need to reload and get ready for Hampton-Dumont."
The H-D Bulldogs (2-2, 0-2) are very similar to Algona in that their leading rusher is the quarterback which proved to be the undoing for the Lynx Friday night. Of the loss, Howard also added, "I take full responsibility for what happened here tonight," he said, "a lot of people may want to blame this person or that person or question a scheme, but the simple fact is I didn't have our kids prepared for Algona."
Simply put, the Lynx defense could not stop Algona's
rushing attack led by quarterback John Gifford who by game's end rushed for 418
yards on 25 attempts and although The Des Moines Register reported that
Gifford had only 396 yards, the discrepancy still does not lessen the fact that Algona's
quarterback made mincemeat of the Lynx defense.
Overall, the Lynx allowed 504 total rushing yards on 49 attempts and got themselves in a bind quick by allowing Algona to score on their first four possessions to take a 27-0 halftime lead. On the flip-side, Webster City's offense had trouble converting on big downs and did not have a 1st down their first three series. As well, the offense uncharacteristically did not have any big plays or long runs that have been--up to this point in the season--the staple of their offense. "People like to watch big plays but that's not how this offense works," said Howard, "it's about grinding it out and getting three or four yards a play." In the end, Webster City's offense did rush for 228 yards--135 of them by Hill who also had a 31-yard touchdown run in the 4th quarter.
Although Webster City got down 27-0 in the 1st half, they had several opportunities to get back into the game but blew them. The first one occurred just prior to halftime with 1:31 left on the clock: down 27-0, Hill returned a kickoff 62 yards and four plays later with :30 seconds on the clock, it was 2nd and goal on the 6. However, a Lynx fumble that was recovered by the Bulldogs ended both the drive and half. As well, on the opening drive of the 2nd half, the Lynx drove inside Algona's 30-yard line before quarterback Brent Nelson was intercepted; a score on those two drives could have narrowed the contest to 27-14 and brought life back into the game. "Obviously, not scoring on either of those drives hurt us a lot," said assistant coach Tim Anderson who played for Webster City and the Iowa Hawkeyes in the 1980s, "but these kids work hard and will rebound from this loss and be ready to play next week."
Indeed, one game does not make a season and the 2008
Lynx squad knows this. As Howard pointed out to them after the game, "You
guys have worked your tails off since the end of last season...you've lifted
weights, done speed training, worked on timing--everything. Keep your
heads screwed on straight and in 7 more days we get to play again."
Webster City returns to Lynx Stadium on Friday,
September 26th, for Homecoming 2008 to take on the Hampton-Dumont Bulldogs.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 pm.
WEBSTER CITY 0
0 7 7 - 14
ALGONA
14 13 0 12 - 39
1st Quarter
A - Person 6 run (Fett kick)
A - Gifford 3 run (Fett kick)
2nd Quarter
A - Person 12 run (Fett kick)
A - Zwiefel 10 pass from Gifford (kick failed)
Third Quarter
WC - Treibel 11 pass from Nelson (Keane kick)
4th Quarter
A - Gifford 14 run (kick blocked by Peterson)
A -
Gifford 73 run (kick failed)
WC - Hill 31 run (Keane kicked)
