September 5, 2008 vs. Eagle Grove
Webster City beats down Eagle Grove for 28-12 victory
Lynx play patient and disciplined to expand All-Time Series
vs. Eagle Grove to 58-16-2
(Eagle Grove, IA)
Overconfident? Arrogant?
Downright disrespectful? Call it what you want, but when the Webster City
Lynx (1-1) got off the bus to take on the Eagle Grove Eagles (0-2) in Eagle
Grove, the scoreboard read "Eagles 42, Guest 0" and stayed like that until just
prior to the game. Perhaps it was an electrical glitch or maybe just a
motivational tactic from Eagle Grove head coach Sean Meth to his players,
but either way, the prediction was far from the actual outcome of the game as
at the end of the contest, the scoreboard actually read: "Webster City 28,
Eagle Grove 12."
For the first time since 1991--the last time these two teams played before the series was renewed in 2006--the Lynx beat the Eagles; coming off last week's 22-21 loss to Union-LaPorte City in which they led 19-7 for most of the game, Webster City's offense was somewhat stifled in the 1st half by Eagle Grove, 45-18 losers against Roland Story a week ago. It was apparent that the Eagles had a simple defensive game plan: stack nine players in the box to stop the Lynx's single wing offense and dare them to throw--and for the first part of the game, the strategy worked.
However, the problem with committing so many
defenders near the line of scrimmage turned out to be the Eagle's bane as the
Lynx scored two 1st-half touchdowns through the air to take a 14-0- halftime
lead. The first touchdown was set up by RB Bret Hilpipre's 52-yard
reception-and-run as Webster City advanced into Eagle Grove's red zone on their
third possession. After driving inside the 10-yard line on the ground, the
Eagle's defense stiffened and on 4th and 5, WB Kevin Kannuan caught a
tipped ball thrown by QB Brent Nelson for the 8-yard touchdown. The Lynx
defense then stopped several advances by Eagle Grove--two inside their
own 25-yard line--before the offense again churned out the yards--again set up
by Hilpipre--this time on a 56-yard run. On 4th and 18 from
the 27-yard line, WR Karl Peterson made an amazing touchdown pass
from Nelson to put Webster City up, 14-0, with only 1:31 left on the clock in
the 1st half.
In the 2nd half, Eagle Grove took the kickoff and drove 60 yards in 9 plays on the strength of their option game; scoring from 1-yard out, the Eagles then elected to go for two points but the run play was stuffed by the Lynx defense for a 14-6 score. On their next possession after running several plays, RB John Hill had the ball stripped and it was recovered by the Eagles on Webster City's 40-yard line. However, the Lynx defense responded in the best way possible and stopped the Eagles dead in their tracks in four plays. Webster City then drove the ball 60-yards and Hill redeemed himself by throwing an 21-yard pass to WR Nate Triebel; PK Dalton Keane's extra point was good to put Webster City ahead, 21-6.
Despite the deficit, Eagle Grove didn't fold and
responded by taking the ball from their own 45-yard line and drove it deep into
Lynx territory. However, an endzone-pass attempt was intercepted by DB
Alex Davis at the 1-yard line to end the threat. Sticking to their
plan of stacking nine players in the box, the Eagles only allowed the Lynx to
advance the ball two yards on consecutive plays but then on 3rd and 8, RB Ross Haren--on
the strength of the blocking by offensive line, busted loose up the middle and
rambled 97-yards for the Lynx's final touchdown of the game. Keane--a
perfect 4 of 4 in the extra point department--helped make the score 28-6.
With only 5 minutes left in the game, Eagle Grove went to the air on their next possession but the third pass was intercepted by MLB Tyler Moen who returned the ball 22-yards deep into Eagle territory. However, the Lynx offense only managed to move the ball several yards before having to punt. Eagle Grove, playing against a defense largely made up of substitutes, then drove down the field and scored with less then 1:00 on the clock; another 2-point attempt failed to make the score a final of 28-12.
Offensively, the Lynx rushed the ball 39 times for
205 yards and 1 touchdown while overall through the air, Webster City went 5 of 7 for 118
yards and 3 touchdowns and were led by Nelson who was 4-for-6 for 98 yards and
two touchdwowns. The leading rusher for the Lynx was Haren who
carried the ball 7 times for 130 yards and a touchdown. Defensively,
senior OLB Ryan Vande Zande collected 12 tackles and was followed by Moen
who had 10 tackles, 1 QB sack, and an interception with a 22-yard return.
Adding to the mix was Davis who had 8 tackles and 1 interception and senior
OLB Tyler Mosbach who 8 stops. However, the biggest statistic of the
game was probably the punting of Vande Zande who had 4 punts for 174 yards.. a
whopping 43.5 average! All but one of Vande Zande's punts were
coffin-corner
kicks out of bounds and thus non-returnable.
"I'm very proud of our kids," said Head Lynx Football Coach Bob Howard after the game, "Eagle Grove is a very good football team with excellent schemes on both sides of the ball. Tonight, our players were both very patient and disciplined. As well, they were consistent on both sides of the ball and finished hard."
The Lynx only had five 1st downs compared to the Eagle's 18 and although Eagle Grove fullback Blake McCart carried the ball 21 times for 170 yards while Eagle defenders Jordan Voss and Bryce Olsen had 14 and 13 tackles, respectively, the one main thing to remember is that the only statistic that matters in the end is the score--something whomever operates the scoreboard at Eagle Grove should consider prior to their next home game.
Webster City next travels to Forest City to take on
the Indians (2-0) next Friday, September 12th in the first game of District 2
play; Forest City features a passing attack that most recently defeated Lake
Mill, 28-6.