2012 IHSAA Football, Week 6
Tonight was another beautiful night for high school football. The sky was clear, the moon was full, the temperature cool and on the edge of chilly; I could not see my breath like I could last week at Solon. Hooded sweatshirt weather, baby! The leaves on the trees along the visitor’s sideline at Bates Field are turning yellow, red, and orange, and a thin fog hovered in front of the floodlights. It was a perfect night for watching Dubuque Senior blank City High, 21-0.
That’s right: the Little Hawks got shutout at home for the first time since a 14-0 loss to West High in 1995 (at least according to the athletic program). Today the CRG wondered if tonight’s tilt against Senior was a trap game for City, if the Little Hawks would get caught looking ahead to next Friday’s battle for the Boot against high flying West. I do not know if they were caught looking ahead or just plain flat. During the third quarter I heard someone say, “At least this is good practice for tomorrow.” I assume they were referring to what everyone expects to be another Hawkeye loss to the Gophers tomorrow (the Hawks are 7.5 point favorites, though).
The game was quick, at least; only a handful of passes were attempted. Ground and pound was main course and the clock ran and ran and ran. It was classic high school football. Senior was able to contain City and gladly accepted two fumbles (both ending promising Little Hawk drives) and three interceptions. Senior scored their first TD from a short field after pinning City High deep with a punt that was downed at the 1-yard line. Their second TD came on a fourth-down run in the third quarter. At that point I looked at my dad and said, “This game is over.” There was still at least 15 minutes left in the game, but the Little Hawks could not move the ball to save their lives. Their play-calling did not help. A quick hand-off up the middle followed a quick hand-off up the middle. It works when the O-line is digging in and plowing a clear path, but Senior’s defense was solid. They deservedly humbled the Little Hawks.
Watch out for Senior in the coming years. The Rams used to be a perennial doormat but things seem to be turning around in Dubuque. Senior has size and a lot of experience returning next year. A promising foundation was evident last year when the Little Hawks prevailed 28-0.
Call it a hunch, but I think West will recapture the Boot next week for only the second time in 12 years. The Trojans throttled Dubuque Hempstead tonight, 76-28.
That’s right: the Little Hawks got shutout at home for the first time since a 14-0 loss to West High in 1995 (at least according to the athletic program). Today the CRG wondered if tonight’s tilt against Senior was a trap game for City, if the Little Hawks would get caught looking ahead to next Friday’s battle for the Boot against high flying West. I do not know if they were caught looking ahead or just plain flat. During the third quarter I heard someone say, “At least this is good practice for tomorrow.” I assume they were referring to what everyone expects to be another Hawkeye loss to the Gophers tomorrow (the Hawks are 7.5 point favorites, though).
The game was quick, at least; only a handful of passes were attempted. Ground and pound was main course and the clock ran and ran and ran. It was classic high school football. Senior was able to contain City and gladly accepted two fumbles (both ending promising Little Hawk drives) and three interceptions. Senior scored their first TD from a short field after pinning City High deep with a punt that was downed at the 1-yard line. Their second TD came on a fourth-down run in the third quarter. At that point I looked at my dad and said, “This game is over.” There was still at least 15 minutes left in the game, but the Little Hawks could not move the ball to save their lives. Their play-calling did not help. A quick hand-off up the middle followed a quick hand-off up the middle. It works when the O-line is digging in and plowing a clear path, but Senior’s defense was solid. They deservedly humbled the Little Hawks.
Watch out for Senior in the coming years. The Rams used to be a perennial doormat but things seem to be turning around in Dubuque. Senior has size and a lot of experience returning next year. A promising foundation was evident last year when the Little Hawks prevailed 28-0.
Call it a hunch, but I think West will recapture the Boot next week for only the second time in 12 years. The Trojans throttled Dubuque Hempstead tonight, 76-28.
