NFV can't corral Mustangs, lose 36-15

 

NFV’s Ethan Lape (64) shows why he was an All-State tackle last year as he drives an Indee defender out of the way in Friday’s loss. (Jerry Wadian photo)

 

NFV can't corral Mustangs, lose 36-15

 

 

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

 

North Fayette Valley couldn’t wrap up enough Mustang runners to keep its win streak alive as Independence ran away from West Union with a big nondistrict win 36-15.

The game was closer in some ways than the final score indicated, but in other ways it wasn’t.

NFV gave up over 400 yards on defense, committed 10 penalties and made four turnovers, but the TigerHawks were in the game for 44 of the 48 minutes.

 The play of the game occurred with just over four minutes left in the game when the TigerHawks, down only 22-15, forced the visitors to punt.

On the punt, the snap flew by the kicker, who raced for the ball barely ahead of a horde of TigerHawks. Running for his life, the Indee punter lobbed a pass high into the air that came down in the hands of a Mustang with a convoy of blockers. That wound up going for 45 yards and the decisive score.

Afterwards NFV head coach Bob Lape said, “That happens nine more times and its either incomplete or an interception.”

Lape also pointed out the receiver was the right tackle, who was ineligible, and the play should have been ruled an ineligible touch for a penalty, and a rekick.

“However, it is what it is; no one is perfect and it was a chaotic play down the far sidelines,” the NFV headman explained.

The head TigerHawk also pointed out, “We didn’t execute well enough on offense or defense to win. You can’t turn the ball over four times, get 10 penalties and give up 400 yards on defense and expect to win.”

Penalties plagued both teams with 18 flags thrown in all. NFV was hit 10 times and Indee amassed eight penalties.

While both sides were hurt by the flags (and the lack of one big one) the TigerHawk O only had two penalty-free drives, and scored both times.  

Trailing 7-0 after a Mustang pick-six, NFV drove 58 yards in 10 plays to knot the score at 7-7 with 6:40 left in the first quarter.

However, Indee responded with a 69-yard drive for a score, and made it 16-7 at the half when NFV muffed a reverse inside its own 5 for a safety.

Both squads scored on their opening possession of the second half. A perfectly thrown pass set up the NFV score as Trevor Hurd hit Nick Baumler deep down the middle for 39 yards.

After the two scores, the next 12 minutes was a penalty-plagued slugfest with the TigerHawks staying close until the big punt/pass for a TD with 4:23 left in the game.

Indee’s final score came late when NFV was substituting to get “the next man in” playing experience.

Indee’s head coach stated “Our plan was to wear down the powerful NFV line and get them tired. When the fourth quarter came it showed.”

Lape disputed that contention stating, “We may have actually played better in the second half. It took us a while to catch on to their offense. We had chances to tie the score and were in great position until the final four minutes when a fluke play set us down two TDs with too little time to make up the deficit.”

The TigerHawk head honcho also noted, “With the high heat and humidity, we had to rest some of our two-way linemen more than normal, but I think both teams were in pretty much the same state in the final quarter.”

After Friday’s game, Lape stated, “The one salvation is the fact that it was a nondistrict contest. We now have a much better idea of what we have to work on, which is the purpose of scheduling tough non-district opponents.

“On the bright side of this loss, despite the mistakes, penalties, and poor execution, we had a chance to win late in the game,” Lape concluded.

Statically, Dillon Baumler led the O with 107 yards on 19 carries; tanner Kuhens scored both TDs, and the PAT after the second score.

Jared Kerr and Josh Guenther led the D with 13 tackles apiece. Cody and Nick Baumler each had a team-high seven solo tackles.

Chase Hollinrake picked off a pass, and Kedrick Bemiss fell on the only Mustang fumble.

This week District 3 play begins. Waukon and Friday’s opponent, Center Point-Urbana, are undefeated. NFV, Beckman and New Hampton are all 1-1 and one of the five teams will not make this year’s four-team playoff format. Next year, the playoffs return to a two-team format.

 

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