Hounds trying to get offense out of first gear

Offense still not at full throttle

Offensively I feel like we're at where we were a couple years ago. We know we have this race engine and we can't get it out of first gear. We're doing some nice things but were capable of doing a lot more.”

Derek Doherty, FMHS Head football coach

FORT MADISON - Fort Madison hits the trails this week as the Tri-State Rodeo is in town, but whether it's a happy trail depends on what the Fairfield Trojans have in story for the 2-0 Bloodhounds.

Fort Madison has started the year 2-0 for the past seven years including a 6-0 start last year, and Head Coach Derek Doherty said he doesn't get wrapped up in the history of it.

"By nature I"m very superstitious and I think about those things personally, but we're not any of those teams. So the history of that is interesting, but not fully sure what it tells about us," Doherty said.

Fort Madison is coming off a 17-6 win over West Burlington/Notre Dame last week and win over Keokuk in week 1.

Doherty said West Burlington is an improving team, but the Hounds gave up some things too.

"Coach Bowman's doing the right things and it's showing. They came out and drove the ball down and we helped them in a couple places with a facemask to move the chains for them. That's football when you play aggressive," he said.

"We want our kids aggressive, so we bite down and keep going. We found ourselves in third downs several times and couldn't find our way off the field."

He said the Hounds offense is at a familiar place and is kinda stuck at the moment.

Teague Smith leads the Hounds with 152 yards on 27 carries and a couple scores. Aiden Boyer has 97 yards rushing and 299 yards through the air on 26/41 passing and a couple scores.

Henry Wiseman has 130 yards on five catches and a TD.

"Offensively I feel like we're at where we were a couple years ago. We know we have this race engine and we can't get it out of first gear. We're doing some nice things but were capable of doing a lot more," he said.

"We'll keep tuning it and tuning it and find the right mixture to make it go."

Fort Madison has had a couple of special surprises in the first game including junior Hayden Segoviano on defense and the Bloodhound special teams.

Segoviano had nine tackles, six solo and a sack last week.

"He and I have become pretty close and we have a lot of conversations. I sat him down, and whatever "it" is he has it. He's not just gifted, he works very hard. He has a belief system in himself," Doherty said.

Doherty said he puts in the work and doesn't miss practice or install days, but  said Segoviano went out for wrestling last winter just to get better for football.

"Those decisions of have catapulted him so the decisions he's making we're so proud of."

Fort Madison is also seeing a next-man in situation in the kicking game. Sophomore Henry Graham in his first year from Holy Trinity has put some kickoffs to the goal line or inside the endzone, and junior Leif Beoding, both standouts from the Hounds substate soccer team, has converted a 2 of 2 field goals with a long of 31 yards and his hit on 3 of 5 PATs.

"Abosolutely thrilled, it's a huge part of the game and we take special teams very serious. Recruiting these soccer players, and it's not just us, it's (FMHS Soccer) Coach (Kevin) Wellman He's very positive toward our football game and I'm thankful for that relationship."

Doherty said the guys that get the least amount of love but deserve the most is the offensive line.

"Our line was doing a fantastic job. We had some bad snaps, but there were some fixes and we're proud of that. THe whole line was leaning on the Falcons and we had a good push. We felt the run game was open so shout out to Coach Wykert. He's fantastic and has these guys so smart and ready to go," Doherty said.

Fairfield is 1-1 with season-opening loss to Ottumwa  by just one touchdown 22-16 and a 41-20 win over Mt. Pleasant last week.

The Trojans bring in perennial producer Max Wheaton who had 122 yards receiving against Mt. Pleasant last week and four TDs.

"We're really familiar with those kids. It feels like they've been around forever. These kids got thrown in the fire early as freshman and sophomores. This is year three and four with these same names."

Fairfield also runs Tate Allen out of the quarterback spot. He had 5 TDs last week on 152 yards passing, and ran 52 yards. Junior Hunter Cecchini who had a 131 yards and a score last week, is also a threat.

Wheaton also lead the team in tackles with seven last week and two sacks.