2011 IHSAA Football, Week 6
I have no clue when City High last lost a home football game, but it had to be at least three years ago. They went undefeated at home in ’09, and repeated the feat in often amazing fashion last season. At some point I knew the streak, however long it was, had to end, and it did tonight.
Cedar Rapids Washington beat City High 27-24. The Warriors’ offense could not be stopped, even on multiple fourth down plays, including one on their final, game-winning drive. They bided their time, ate the clock, and converted. They were unstoppable. Washington did not have big-play potential, but they won the game in the trenches. On defense, they plugged the line of scrimmage and kept City High’s bruising running back from getting into a rhythm. He broke a couple here and there, but, for the most part, the Warriors were keyed-in on City’s one-dimensional plan.
It is not easy winning at Bates Field, and Washington definitely deserved the big win over the second ranked Little Hawks. As they slowly marched their way down the field for the game-winning touchdown, City High’s famous (or perhaps infamous, depending on your point of view) “super fan” stormed away in disgust. He was yelling about how Charlie Rogers, West High’s quarterback, was the best QB in the state. No argument here. But seriously, dude: take your lumps. There were a handful of seconds left on the clock when Washington went ahead and I wanted to stay until the final whistle, but my old man wanted to get home. We walked across the practice field behind the school and watched time expire on the scoreboard. Mr. Koepnick announced the final score, and the roar of the Washington faithful echoed off City High’s back façade.
Awful play calling played a major role in the loss. City High never punted once. On each of their three or four fourth downs, the Little Hawks elected to go for it. They lined-up for what could be a punt, but ran it. It worked the first time, but never again. The Warriors snuffed each subsequent attempt. On every other down, City High kept the ball between the tackles with running back Ronald Thompson. Time and time again he took the hand-off from the QB, and time and time again he got minimal yardage. It seemed Sabers and Company were waiting for him to bust it, waiting for the O-line to take control. It never happened. The Little Hawks got tricky with an end-around for their first TD, and they tried at least four passes — one for a TD, another that was dropped and could have been an easy touchdown, and another that was dropped close to the goal line — but they never achieved any balance to keep the Warriors guessing. Ronald Thompson. Ronald Thompson. Ronald Thompson. The kid is a great running back, but he cannot do everything. (He did against West, but Sabers should not count on him doing the same every game.) City High does not have as potent or balanced an offense this year, and it has really hurt them.
It was homecoming tonight, too, so the loss probably really stings. Or maybe not. Oh, well.
I wanted to write a little tonight about murmurs of the IHSAA discontinuing the current conference format in 4A in favor of district play (I have no clue how that would work), but I will wait for later. Also, I wanted to touch on the very unsportsmanlike behavior of the Cedar Rapids Xavier players and fans in their match-up against City High a few weeks ago. That will have to wait, too. It is time to drink.
Cedar Rapids Washington beat City High 27-24. The Warriors’ offense could not be stopped, even on multiple fourth down plays, including one on their final, game-winning drive. They bided their time, ate the clock, and converted. They were unstoppable. Washington did not have big-play potential, but they won the game in the trenches. On defense, they plugged the line of scrimmage and kept City High’s bruising running back from getting into a rhythm. He broke a couple here and there, but, for the most part, the Warriors were keyed-in on City’s one-dimensional plan.
It is not easy winning at Bates Field, and Washington definitely deserved the big win over the second ranked Little Hawks. As they slowly marched their way down the field for the game-winning touchdown, City High’s famous (or perhaps infamous, depending on your point of view) “super fan” stormed away in disgust. He was yelling about how Charlie Rogers, West High’s quarterback, was the best QB in the state. No argument here. But seriously, dude: take your lumps. There were a handful of seconds left on the clock when Washington went ahead and I wanted to stay until the final whistle, but my old man wanted to get home. We walked across the practice field behind the school and watched time expire on the scoreboard. Mr. Koepnick announced the final score, and the roar of the Washington faithful echoed off City High’s back façade.
Awful play calling played a major role in the loss. City High never punted once. On each of their three or four fourth downs, the Little Hawks elected to go for it. They lined-up for what could be a punt, but ran it. It worked the first time, but never again. The Warriors snuffed each subsequent attempt. On every other down, City High kept the ball between the tackles with running back Ronald Thompson. Time and time again he took the hand-off from the QB, and time and time again he got minimal yardage. It seemed Sabers and Company were waiting for him to bust it, waiting for the O-line to take control. It never happened. The Little Hawks got tricky with an end-around for their first TD, and they tried at least four passes — one for a TD, another that was dropped and could have been an easy touchdown, and another that was dropped close to the goal line — but they never achieved any balance to keep the Warriors guessing. Ronald Thompson. Ronald Thompson. Ronald Thompson. The kid is a great running back, but he cannot do everything. (He did against West, but Sabers should not count on him doing the same every game.) City High does not have as potent or balanced an offense this year, and it has really hurt them.
It was homecoming tonight, too, so the loss probably really stings. Or maybe not. Oh, well.
I wanted to write a little tonight about murmurs of the IHSAA discontinuing the current conference format in 4A in favor of district play (I have no clue how that would work), but I will wait for later. Also, I wanted to touch on the very unsportsmanlike behavior of the Cedar Rapids Xavier players and fans in their match-up against City High a few weeks ago. That will have to wait, too. It is time to drink.
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