FORT MADISON - It took North Scott 32 seconds to make a statement.
Kyler Gerardy’s 67-yard touchdown run on the first offensive play of the game spoke volumes as the Lancers rolled over Fort Madison 49-14 on Friday night.
His 66-yard touchdown run on the second play of North Scott’s second possession was also just as loud.
“That was bizarre,” Fort Madison coach Derek Doherty said. “We knew that their quarterback was good. But the way that he took off…”
Gerardy later had a 49-yard touchdown run that gave North Scott (6-2) a 28-7 lead.
Gerardy would finish with 196 yards rushing on just five carries on a night when the Lancers consistently moved the ball against the Bloodhounds (6-2), who were set back by those early big plays.
“I felt like we had a good warmup, we were dialed in, and then that happened,” Doherty said. “It was strange. Big momentum their way right away, and this is a game of momentum sometimes. Felt like we could never get ahead.”
The Bloodhounds did get early points on an 18-play, 80-yard touchdown drive that cut North Scott’s lead to 14-7. Hayden Segoviano’s 5-yard touchdown run capped the drive in which Fort Madison converted on two third downs and one fourth down.
“It was just execution,” Doherty said of what made the drive work. “That’s been our problem — the execution. It’s never been about effort. It’s been about executing, doing the small things. It was awesome to see that come to light.
“We had a pilot light, but it got blown out really quick.”
North Scott answered with a 10-play, 88-yard touchdown drive finished by Dylan Marti’s 9-yard run. Gerardy was 4-of-4 passing for 45 yards on the drive, with Marti having five carries for 25 yards.
“I don’t want to assume, but it was like, ‘Hey, we scored,’” Doherty said. “We talked about that at halftime, the mental side of this. We felt like our scheme was solid, it was there, there were things open. We prepared well, we scouted well. I felt like our game plan was solid, we didn’t execute it.”
Martin’s 26-yard touchdown run gave North Scott a 35-7 halftime lead, then Gerardy scored on a 3-yard touchdown run to open the fourth quarter.
Aidan Boyer’s 35-yard touchdown pass to Leif Boeding got Fort Madison to within 42-14, then North Scott closed the scoring with a touchdown pass from Drew Kilburg to Payton Yaddof.
Fort Madison closes the regular season with next Friday’s game at home against Burlington, still with a chance to get into the Class 4A playoffs.
“Burlington’s a thorn in our side,” Doherty said. “We’re going to have to go play the football we know we can, that we’ve proven that we can.”
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