NORTH LIBERTY - The expression on Head Coach Derek Doherty's face after Fort Madison was dropped 49-0 by No. 4 Iowa City Liberty said it all.
"Whoa. Whoa," Doherty said. "That's a really good football team."
Iowa City's Graham Beckman threw for four touchdowns in the first half alone to set an early tone that this wasn't a team the Bloodhounds were used to playing.
It's the second straight year the Lightning have stopped a Bloodhound six win streak, but this Lightning squad, under former Washington Head Coach James Harris, is a different team than 2021.
This team held Fort Madison to just 71 yards of offense and let the Hounds into the redzone just one time.
That happened with 6:08 left in the second quarter when Fort Madison got to the eight highlighted by a Nathaniel Swigart 12-yard catch and run to the 11.
Teague Smith got three on the next carry to make it 2nd and 7 at the eight but an incomplete pass from Aidan Boyer and then a screen to Henry Wiseman lost four to make it 4th and 11.
A 31-yard field goal attempt from Leif Boeding went just left of the upright for the Hounds' only real shot at any points.
Smith would end up with just 26 yards on 18 carries with Lightning defenders usually around his legs or waist before he got back to the line of scrimmage.
Boyer threw for just 57 yards on 11 completions with one interception that was returned by senior Christian Barney 19 yards for a score in the third quarter for a 42-0 lead and a running clock against the Hounds.
The Lightning would get their final score on an 8-yard run by Trey Gregoire and the Hounds would get one possession in the fourth quarter with the running clock.
Doherty told the Hounds after the loss that they still were in control of their own destiny and would have to come back Monday with the right mindset if they don't want 2022 to finish like 2021 with three straight losses.
"History is bound to repeat itself if you don't change something," Doherty said.
"We have to come back to work Monday and put this one away. You know North Scott, and Burlington, as well, are out there looking at this score and wanting to come into Fort Madison over the next two weeks and do the same thing."
Fort Madison will need to win one of the final two games if they want to have any chance of making the post season.
Tanner Settles had 5.5 tackles on the night to lead Fort Madison on defense. Hayden Segoviano had five tackles and Ike Thacher had 4.5 with a sack of Beckman in the second quarter for a 7-yard loss.
Wiseman led the Bloodhounds with four catches and 28 yards.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here