Bloodhounds start year with comeback win

Doherty on Jim Krekel

I admire him and he’s an inspiration and he said he hoped I get the longevity that he did. Think about how many lives he’s changed. It’s fantastic. He wants me to have that longevity, but if we keep having games like this, I don’t know if I’m going to.”

Derek Doherty, Hounds' football coach

BURLINGTON – Fort Madison Head Coach Derek Doherty said the Grayhounds and Bloodhounds traded “uglies” Friday night at Miller Field in Burlington.
But the Burlington ugly was just a little more beneficial for the Bloodhounds as Fort Madison earned a 15-12 comeback win to open the 2023 high school football season.
Fort Madison’s ugly came on the first play of the fourth quarter when the Grayhounds’ Gabe Robinson spun out of a tackle just three yards past the line of scrimmage and scampered to the left 56 yards for a touchdown and a 12-7 lead.
Burlington’s ugly came about eight minutes later when Fort Madison held BHS at 4^th and 12, forcing a punt from the BHS 34-yard line. The snap went high over Cam Horn’s head and Bloodhound senior Teague Smith outwrestled Horn for the ball at the 7-yard line. Two plays later, Hounds quarterback Marcus Guzman pitched on a sweep to Hayden Segoviano who slipped past the Grayhound defense into the end zone for a 13-12 lead.
Fort Madison went for the two-pointer and Guzman hooked up with senior Henry Wiseman on a crossing route for the 15-12 final lead.
The Bloodhounds had run the pitch to Segoviano earlier in the night and the play was dropped. Guzman said he was comfortable going back to the play.
“We had an issue with that earlier, but the momentum was on our side and I was sure we would get in with that play,” the junior said.
Doherty said he had encouraged offensive coordinator Justin Menke to go a different route.
“That’s a tribute to them.  We were having some luck on the outer edge and I was actually thinking something else, but he made a different call there, I’m glad he did,” Doherty said.
The Grayhounds opened the scoring early with a 69-yard drive, all on the ground, with Robinson scoring on a 1-yard keeper. Caden Schisel had 57 of the yards on six carries setting up Robinson’s plunge on 4^th and goal for a 6-0 lead. The extra point would clink off the left upright and fall to the left side.
Fort Madison responded on the next drive with its own 12-play, 69-yard drive. Mixing up the pass and the run, Guzman found three different receivers on the drive and then hooked up with Wiseman on a 4-yard catch-and-run. Leif Boeding's PAT was good and Fort Madison carried a 7-6 lead through to the 4^th quarter.
Guzman said he thought he forced things early.
“When I go out there and just play my game, I do well. I love to run and take some hits,” he said.
Doherty said he met Burlington head coach Jim Krekel before the game and the two shared some kind thoughts. Krekel is in his last year coaching the Grayhounds and has Doherty’s respect. The two teams have battled the last three years with a win coming in the final quarter of each game.
“We met at midfield before the game and had some kind words. I told him straight up, I love that man. I really do,” Doherty said.
“I admire him and he’s an inspiration and he said he hoped I get the longevity that he did. Think about how many lives he’s changed. It’s fantastic. He wants me to have that longevity, but if we keep having games like this, I don’t know if I’m going to.”
Doherty said the game was suffocating in the heat, but both teams handled it well. He said Guzman had a solid first drive.
“He came off and said things are feeling really good and he was seeing things and then he started to force things, but when Marcus is being Marcus it's spectacular. He doesn’t have to be anybody else or try to do anything else."
Wiseman said he knew this game would come down to the wire the same as it has the past three years. He said the offense struggled a bit, but did enough to get the win.
“The offense didn’t show how good we are going to be the rest of the season. It wasn’t pretty, but we got the job done,” he said.
Guzman finished 12 of 19 for 96 yards and a TD. He also ran the ball 12 times for 10 yards. Wiseman caught all seven of his targets for 29 yards and the two scores. Caleb Bolander led the Hounds' receivers with 34 yards on three catches. Hayden Segoviano had 58 yards on nine carries and the touchdown to lead Fort Madison on the ground. Brody Cashman had eight yards on three carries.
Jamarkus Kline had seven tackles to lead Fort Madison from the linebacker spot. CJ Arnett, Smith, and Wiseman all had 5.5 tackles. Brody Cashman and Tristan Marshall each had a sack for the Hounds.