Hounds sluggish, but find way to knock off River Kings

Work to do

Really proud of their guts and their digging deep. It's nice to know they have that in 'em. But every one knows that we didn't execute well and we've got some reflecting to do if want to go where we way we want to go”

Derek Doherty, FMHS Head football coach

FORT MADISON - The game of football is played in yards, but sometimes it comes down to inches.

An extra point that came up just inches short of bouncing over the cross bar with 2:42 left in the first half ended up being the difference in a 14-13 Fort Madison win over Clinton in Class 4A, District 3 football Friday night at Coan Field.

The Bloodhounds move to 6-0 on the year, but not before trailing in the 1st quarter for the fourth time in six games so far this season.

Clinton punched the Hounds first when the River Kings returned the opening kickoff to the Fort Madison 40-yard line. Senior quarterback Addison Binnie rushed for 15 yards on first down and then two plays later rushed in from eight yards out for a quick 7-0 lead.

Fort Madison would go four and out on its first possession and then the defense held on a 7-play drive that ended up in a Clinton punt that was downed at the Fort Madison 1-yard line.

With the Hounds against their own goal line, junior tailback Teague Smith got two yards on first down and then Aidan Boyer went off on a read to the right for 15 yards for a first down.

After Smith got four more yards on 1st and 10, Boyer found Kane Williams down the right sideline for a 26-yard catch. Williams was falling down backward on the catch and landed near the sideline, but after a conference officials ruled the catch good.

Three plays later the two would hook up again on a catch-and-run again to the right side, where Williams shook off a couple tackles and ran through a third before slipping into the endzone to tie things up at 7.

Clinton would put together another 8-play drive with Binnie and Ajai Russell pounding the Hounds front line, but a sack by Hayden Segoviano on 2nd and 15 put the River Kings in  a tough spot. A small run by Binnie forced a punt to the Hounds 48.

Boyer and Williams would hook up again on 3rd and 9 to keep the next drive alive and then Boyer would slip through the front of the River Kings defense and race to the left for 28 yards.

A couple more runs and then Teague Smith bulled in from four yards out, backing over the goal line pulling two Clinton defenders with him. Leif Boeding's PAT would prove to be the game-winner.

Clinton would score on its next possession with Binnie and JhiKeith McGraw hooking up on several high lofted passes into the Hounds' secondary. The two connected three times on the drive with the third good for 28 yards to the Bloodhounds six.

Binnie couldn't find any receivers on the next snap and scrambled to his left. After turning toward the goal line and finding no running room, Binnie extended the play to the left again and sneaked inside the left pylon for a 14-13 game.

BJ Cooley's PAT attempt came up soft and high and struck the front  crossbar and caromed back and into the endzone just short of going over with 2:42 left in the first half.

Neither team would put up any points in the second half, most of which was played between the 30 yard lines of both sides

Officials threw 14 penalty flags in the final two quarters and both quarterbacks threw interceptions in a sloppy session.

With 2:42 left in the game, Boyer took a snap and under quick pressure had the ball stripped. Clinton recovered the fumble, but the Hounds defense stepped up and on 2nd and 18 following a River Kings illegal procedure penalty,  Marcus Guzman picked off a deep pass from Binnie to McGraw that came up well short of the target.

Fort Madison was able to almost run the clock out, but left Clinton two plays, but an incomplete pass and then a sack by Daniel Sokolik ended the game.

Head Coach Derek Doherty was less than impressed with the effort and said the Hounds have some work to do this week in practice.

"A lot of guts and hearts from our kids, but not a lot of execution," Doherty said.

"Really proud of their guts and their digging deep. It's nice to know they have that in 'em. But every one knows that we didn't execute well and we've got some reflecting to do if want to go where we say we want to go."

He said the sloppy play isn't what the Hounds need going into a tougher part of the schedule.

"Find a way. That was big. But we gave up some stuff and I think there were 500 balls - like old school playground calling 500 and throwing them up - and they were coming  down with them so credit to them," he said.

"Our guys seemed to be playing on rollerskates. If felt all week we were lethargic and that's a me problem and I've got to fix that."

Hayden Segoviano and Tanner Settles led the Hounds with 17 combined tackles, seven for losses and four sacks. Teague Smith had 7.5 tackles. He also had 76 yards on 16 carries.

Boyers line on the night was 10 of 23 for 110 yards a touchdown and an interception, just his second of the year. Williams had five catches for 76 yards and the score.

Fort Madison travels to Iowa City Liberty next week before taking on North Scott at home and Burlington in the regular season finale three weeks from now.