Webster City downs the Lions

[caption id="attachment_12601" align="alignleft" width="270"] ZACH LESTER[/caption]

Eighth ranked Webster City (3A) put an end to their 16-game losing streak and moved to 2-0 on the season Friday night with a 21-7 victory over Clear Lake.  The young Lions fell to 0-2, but showed marked improvement from their season opener against Mason City.  Seven turnovers were reduced to two, and the offense generated 328-yards, compared to 121 the week before.

Head Coach Jared DeVries was disappointed by the loss, but saw positive steps.

“We didn’t come to compete, we came to win,” said DeVries.  “We didn’t play well enough.  We made some improvements, but we have to get back to work on Monday.”

The Lions started the game by controlling the ball on an opening drive which took them inside the Lynx 10 and ate up half of the first quarter clock.  Senior running back Carter Garrington asserted himself in the drive, running for a pair of first downs.  Kicker Jarod Anderson attempted a 26-yard field goal try when the drive stalled, but missed, leaving the team scoreless.

[caption id="attachment_12602" align="alignleft" width="270"] CARTER GARRINGTON[/caption]

Webster City, led by fullback Gavin Dinsdale, was forced to punt on their first possession.  A juggled snap forced the kicker to improvise, but the Lion defense slammed the door and tackled him for a loss, giving the Lions possession at the Lynx 32.  Five plays later Parker Pitzen scored and Anderson’s kick was good to give the Lions a 7-0 lead.

The Lynx wasted no time in responding.  On the third play from scrimmage senior quarterback Avery Fuhs connected on the first of four passes to his brother, Alec, for a touchdown.  On the night the combo connected four times for 135-yards and two scores.

The first quarter ended in a 7-7 tie.

The brother-to-brother assault continued on their next possession.  This time Alec made the catch for a 33-yard score.  The extra point kick put the Lynx ahead, 14-7.

The Lions were eager to even the score.  Quarterback Zach Lester used a running attack provided by Garrington and passes to Pitzen and Zach Tatum to move the ball steadily from their own 20 to the Lynx six-yard line.  On fourth and five from the six, DeVries and the Lions decided to go for it.  A screen pass was complete to Tatum, but the Lynx held him out of the end zone.

With five-minutes left in the half Fuhs and company went to work.

The Lion defense again rose to the task and stopped the Lynx at mid-field, giving the Lions another chance to score before the half.  The team picked up two first downs, but stalled at mid-field when the buzzer sounded for a 14-7 Lynx lead at the break.

Clear Lake started the second half with the same gusto they had in the first.  Jarod Anderson’s interception on Webster City’s third play gave the Lions the ball at the Lynx 36.  Webster City’s defense quickly shut down Clear Lake’s grab for momentum.  Dinsdale picked up yardage in bunches on the way to the Lion 16-yard line, but again the Lion defense held them out to stay within a touchdown.

  The first of two second half turnovers put the Lynx in position to score before the end of the third quarter.  On third and five at their own 28, Webster City recovered a fumble on the shotgun snap, giving them the ball at the Lion 35.  Four plays later Dinsdale score from the five to cushion the Lynx lead.  The successful PAT made the score 21-7.  Dinsdale was Webster City’s leading risher with 125-yards on 25 carries.

With a quarter remaining, the Lions didn’t panic.  The

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took the ball to the Lynx 22 before Webster City’s defense shut them down.  A tackle for a loss, incomplete pass and sack had the Lions facing fourth and 19 at the 31.  A fumbled snap resulted in a quarterback sack and the Lynx took over with an opportunity to run some time off the clock.

They successfully ran the clock down to the five-minute mark before the Lions could take over on downs.  Again the Lion offense was able to move the ball.  The Lynx defense bent, but didn’t break as the Lions quickly marched down the field.  Lester’s second interception in the game ended the scoring threat.

On the night, Lester was 17/28 passing for 163-yards.  Pitzen hauled in seven passes for 64-yards and Tatum had four receptions for 31-yards.  Nick Eggers, Crispin and Tanner Berger each had two receptions for 29, 20 and 19-yards respectively.

Garrington was the leading ground-gainer for the Lions. He rushed 14 times for 89-yards.  The quarterback, Lester, ran the ball 12 times for 50-yards.  Tatum finished with 25-yards on six carries and Pitzen ran the ball six times for three-yards.  Eggers handled the ball once and was tackled for a two-yard loss.

Justin Sholly was the leader on defense with four solo and 20 assisted tackles.  Tatum was credited with three solo and nine tackle assists.  He also sacked recorded a sack.  other leading tacklers included Ben Mason with one solo and nine assists.  Thomas Storbeck finished with one solo and six assists, and Joey Monson had one solo and five assists.

The Lions are at home this week and will host Osage in their Homecoming game.  The game represents the start of District play.  Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m.