Mistakes plague Hawks in loss to WBND

Not getting it done.

We thought going in we were going to do the right things, we had the looks we wanted. We just didn’t get it done.””

Doug Dodds, Central Lee Head Coach

WEST BURLINGTON — The mental mistakes set an early tone.
West Burlington-Notre Dame’s control of the line of scrimmage carried the rest of the night.
Central Lee’s 27-0 loss to the Falcons in Friday’s Class 2A District 5 game at Bill Nelson Field was a night beset by the Hawks’ mistakes and penalties.
Central Lee (3-3 overall, 0-3 district) allowed the Falcons (3-3, 1-2) to seize the game early, and it took until the final couple of drives in the fourth quarter for the Hawks to have any answer.
“Too many mental mistakes tonight, and that was a big thing,” Central Lee coach Doug Dodds said. “We have to do a better job of getting them prepared. I have to do it. I have to a better job helping our kids get ready for the game.”
WB-ND opened the game with an 8-minute drive that the Hawks allowed to keep going with three offsides penalties. But after Central Lee stopped the Falcons inside the Hawks’ 10-yard line, a fumble gave the ball right back to WB-ND, and Quincy Collins scored on a 5-yard run one play later for a 7-0 lead.
The Falcons recovered a loose ball on the ensuing kickoff and quickly added a second touchdown —  a 4-yard run. It was 14-0, and the Hawks had completed just one offensive play.
WB-ND led 20-0 at halftime. The difference in possession was clear — the Falcons had 36 first-half plays, compared to just 13 for the Hawks.
“They just won the line of scrimmage tonight,” Dodds said.
Central Lee had just four first downs in the game, and three of those came in the fourth quarter, when the Hawks were able to get the ball to midfield.
Central Lee had just 34 yards of offense, compared to 281 for the Falcons. The Hawks were penalized nine times, with the first five penalties all offsides calls.
“We had a nice week of practice,” Dodds said. “We thought going in we were going to do the right things, we had the looks we wanted. We just didn’t get it done.”
Blake Wilson had a second-quarter touchdown run and added a third-quarter touchdown for the Falcons. Collins had 126 yards rushing. Quarterback Caden Schwenker threw for 78 yards, but Central Lee’s Cory Jones and Ethan Bergman came up with interceptions of him.
Kayden Calfee threw for 37 yards for the Hawks, all in the fourth quarter.
Central Lee closes the regular season with two home games, beginning next Friday against Mid-Prairie.
“We love these kids — they’re great kids,” Dodds said. “And they show up every day and go to work. All we can do is continue to grow, and continue to get better.”