2012 IHSAA Football, Week 3
Tonight was damp, chilly, and perfect for football. I was wearing my Wind Wall and had it zipped up all the way at halftime. I could even see my breath.
My old man and I returned to good ol’ Bates Field to watch City High play Waterloo East, the other public high school in Waterloo. (I think Waterloo has a Regina equivalent, though they are nowhere as dominant on the football field as the Regals are right now.) Much like Waterloo West, East is a perennial doormat. They have been for as long as I can remember, but this year they have talent and went toe-to-toe with top-ranked Cedar Falls last week. Under center for the Trojans was a dual-threat QB and the experts were expecting a close contest against the Little Hawks. And it was — for half of the first quarter.
After stopping City High on its initial drive, the Trojans were pinned against their own goal line after the Little Hawks down their punt on the 1-yard line. On third down, the Trojan’s elusive QB panicked in the end zone under pressure, threw up a pass, and it was intercepted. The Little Hawks recovered inside the 10. They capitalized on the turnover, taking a 7-0 lead.
CHS’ dynamic RB/LB was back on the field tonight and made a huge difference. Standing five-eight, he runs low to the ground and hides behind the big offensive line, squirting through seams and catching the defense off-guard. He did not rack up too many yards — at least it do not seem like he did — but he did make a positive impact for the Little Hawks. He was the one (I think) who broke into the end zone for the first score of the game.
On the Trojans’ ensuing drive, they fumbled to set-up a short field for City High. The Little Hawks capitalized again, pushing the score to 14-0. On the next drive it was déjà vu: Trojans fumble, Little Hawk touchdown. City High was also moving the ball through the air, and scored on a long, 56- or 57-yard pass play where the receiver caught the ball, broke a tackle, walked the tightrope along the sideline, gained his balanced, and outran the Trojans’ secondary.
Despite theirs struggles, East showed flashes of brilliance. Their QB got loose and found open receivers. He connected for a long pass play for their only first half score, making it 35-7 at halftime.
Somewhat oddly, both teams spent halftime on the edges of the field instead of going into the locker rooms. I have no clue why.
Here is another thing I have no clue about: the graduating year of the senior class is not outlined on the northeast corner. For as long as I can remember, that hill has featured the upcoming graduation year writ large in white rock for the entire stadium to see. Not this year. A red and white Tiger Hawk is painted next to the faint outline of what looks like “98.” Whatever. Of course, though, “13” is bad luck.
The third quarter was quite interesting. East received the ball and slowly matriculated the ball down the field. Just as they were about to kickoff, my dad turned to me and said, “I’d watch out for the onside.” Sure enough, East took a page out of Dan Sabers’ special team’s playbook and pulled out the onside — which they recovered. City High eventually stopped the Trojans’ drive deep in their own territory and regained the ball, but gained just four years — their only offensive yards of the quarter. After they punted, East ate the clock, converting on what seemed to be four fourth-downs. Insane. The game, I felt, was basically in the bag so I was not worried. The Trojans found the end zone again but could not convert the two-point conversion, so the score was 35-19.
That was at the beginning of the fourth quarter and my dad and I started heading out. Walking up First Avenue, we watched City High move the ball into field goal range and push the score to 38-19. The final ended up being 38-26.
My old man and I returned to good ol’ Bates Field to watch City High play Waterloo East, the other public high school in Waterloo. (I think Waterloo has a Regina equivalent, though they are nowhere as dominant on the football field as the Regals are right now.) Much like Waterloo West, East is a perennial doormat. They have been for as long as I can remember, but this year they have talent and went toe-to-toe with top-ranked Cedar Falls last week. Under center for the Trojans was a dual-threat QB and the experts were expecting a close contest against the Little Hawks. And it was — for half of the first quarter.
After stopping City High on its initial drive, the Trojans were pinned against their own goal line after the Little Hawks down their punt on the 1-yard line. On third down, the Trojan’s elusive QB panicked in the end zone under pressure, threw up a pass, and it was intercepted. The Little Hawks recovered inside the 10. They capitalized on the turnover, taking a 7-0 lead.
CHS’ dynamic RB/LB was back on the field tonight and made a huge difference. Standing five-eight, he runs low to the ground and hides behind the big offensive line, squirting through seams and catching the defense off-guard. He did not rack up too many yards — at least it do not seem like he did — but he did make a positive impact for the Little Hawks. He was the one (I think) who broke into the end zone for the first score of the game.
On the Trojans’ ensuing drive, they fumbled to set-up a short field for City High. The Little Hawks capitalized again, pushing the score to 14-0. On the next drive it was déjà vu: Trojans fumble, Little Hawk touchdown. City High was also moving the ball through the air, and scored on a long, 56- or 57-yard pass play where the receiver caught the ball, broke a tackle, walked the tightrope along the sideline, gained his balanced, and outran the Trojans’ secondary.
Despite theirs struggles, East showed flashes of brilliance. Their QB got loose and found open receivers. He connected for a long pass play for their only first half score, making it 35-7 at halftime.
Somewhat oddly, both teams spent halftime on the edges of the field instead of going into the locker rooms. I have no clue why.
Here is another thing I have no clue about: the graduating year of the senior class is not outlined on the northeast corner. For as long as I can remember, that hill has featured the upcoming graduation year writ large in white rock for the entire stadium to see. Not this year. A red and white Tiger Hawk is painted next to the faint outline of what looks like “98.” Whatever. Of course, though, “13” is bad luck.
The third quarter was quite interesting. East received the ball and slowly matriculated the ball down the field. Just as they were about to kickoff, my dad turned to me and said, “I’d watch out for the onside.” Sure enough, East took a page out of Dan Sabers’ special team’s playbook and pulled out the onside — which they recovered. City High eventually stopped the Trojans’ drive deep in their own territory and regained the ball, but gained just four years — their only offensive yards of the quarter. After they punted, East ate the clock, converting on what seemed to be four fourth-downs. Insane. The game, I felt, was basically in the bag so I was not worried. The Trojans found the end zone again but could not convert the two-point conversion, so the score was 35-19.
That was at the beginning of the fourth quarter and my dad and I started heading out. Walking up First Avenue, we watched City High move the ball into field goal range and push the score to 38-19. The final ended up being 38-26.
