Hawk players indicate a touchdown as junior Lane Fisk surges across the goal line to put the first points on the board in the 25-8 win against Belle Plaine. Hawks pictured are Mathias Torres (45), Kyle Squires (40), Caleb Rea (22), Corder Noun Harder (11), Owen Norrish (55), Braden Alberts (62), Lane Fisk carrying the ball, Jager Huyser (57), Tyson Jansen (under Belle Plaine's 63), and Conner Maston (7).
The Lynnville-Sully football team checked off another goal of its 2021 season: Class A District 6 champions. On Friday, Oct. 15, the Hawks beat Belle Plaine, 25-8, to claim the title and secure a top playoffs seed. The phenomenal regular-season turnaround comes after two consecutive seasons where the Hawks only won one game. Friday’s performance was all about a mindset of finishing, and the Hawks did just that by putting their foot down on the offensive gas and holding Belle Plaine scoreless until the fourth quarter, leaving no doubt they were the district leader.
Friday was a brisk night, but the Hawks had a fire lit inside with a solid crowd of Hawk fans in the stands that outnumbered that of the home team. Belle Plaine received the ball to start the game and maintained a lengthy possession before the Hawk defense was able to take over on downs. Sophomore Corder Noun Harder had two consecutive big runs to move the ball to the 10-yard line. The Hawks’ run game chipped away and found themselves in a fourth-down situation at the one-yard line. Junior Lane Fisk was given the ball and was pushed over the goal line to put the first points on the board. Hawks led 6-0 with 2:55 left in the first.
The Hawks started the second quarter passing the ball. Junior Conner Maston connected with classmate Bryce Richards for a 28-yard completion and moved the chains. After a short gain by Noun Harder, it was sophomore Maxwell Mintle’s turn to run the ball. He found a hole and ran the ball nine yards for the touchdown and increase the Hawks’ lead to 12-0 with 11:05 left in the first half.
Mathias Torres wraps up a Plainsman. The junior had five tackles and a fumble recovery.
The ensuing kickoff pinned the Plainsmen at their own 12-yard line. Hawk defense showed no mercy, and soon Belle Plaine was punting from their own endzone. The Hawks were marching down the field but an intercepted pass gave possession back to BP. The Plainsmen looked to capitalize, moving the chains on back-to-back plays and successfully going for it on fourth down. The Hawks made a great team stand capped off by sophomore CJ Nikkel and junior Mathias Torres chasing down and recovering a bad snap. The Hawks had possession of the ball to finish the half.
The Hawks received the ball to start the second half. A lot of motion in the Hawk backfield threw off the Plainsmen defenders. L-S moved the ball easily down the field, gaining first downs on nice carries by junior Kyle Squires, Maston, and Noun Harder. On second and five from the 20-yard line, Squires ran the ball for the Hawks’ third touchdown of the night. The PAT by sophomore Lucas Sieck was good, and the Hawks led 19-0 with 8:32 left in the third quarter.
BP moved the chains on a nice carry before Maston intercepted the ball for the Hawks. Lynnville-Sully continued to punish the Plainsmen with their run game behind a solid offensive line and great blocking. Noun Harder was the next to score, this time on a five-yard run. The scoreboard read 25-0 in the Hawks’ favor with 2:08 left in the third.
Belle Plaine finally got on the score board midway through the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough. With just over a minute left to play, the Hawks went into victory formation to run out the clock.
The run game was on fire again as players kept their feet pumping, the offensive line got off the ball quickly, and the Hawks had great blocking downfield. Noun Harder led in rushing with 133 yards on 14 carries. Squires racked up 73 yards on nine carries. Junior Bryce Richards had one reception, a 28-yard pass from Maston.
Defensively from the linebacker positions, Squires had 13.5 tackles and junior Lane Fisk had 10.5. Maston and Torres each had five tackles. Maston intercepted the ball once, and Torres had the big fumble recovery late in the second quarter.
Back in March, the Hawks signed letters of commitment to brotherhood, selflessness, and coach-ability. Dedication in the offseason and a core group of leaders transforming the team mentality have given new life to the Hawk football program.
The Hawks would love to see their fans filling the stands on Friday, Oct. 22, for the first playoff game against the Highland Huskies at L-S. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. Tickets are $8 per person and must be purchased online at iahsaa.org/tickets/. No cash sales or passes will be allowed at the gate. To view the bracket, visit ia.varsitybound.com/sports/football/2021-22/brackets/h2021101702275516579bcc1bdc9a84f.
