Seniors Caleb Rea (#22) and Jager Huyser (#51) team up to bring down a Plainsman in the Hawks' 55-14 win on Friday, Oct. 14.
The Lynnville-Sully Hawks added the cherry on top of a sweet, undefeated regular season with a 55-14 dominating win against Belle Plaine on Friday, Oct. 14. L-S put up 41 points in the first half and added a touchdown in both of the final quarters for the win.
The Hawks kicked off the ball to start the game. After forcing a quick three-and-out, junior Corder Noun Harder fielded the punt and ran it 65 yards to the endzone to put the first points on the scoreboard. The Hawks led, 6-0, with 10:31 left in the first.
After forcing the Plainsmen to punt again, Noun Harder got the ball on the first play and sprinted 42 yards for another touchdown. The PAT by junior Lucas Sieck was good to increase the Hawks’ lead to 13-0 with 8:34 left in the first.
Lynnville-Sully’s defense was relentless, and the Hawks got the ball back on downs. Junior CJ Nikkel had a short gain followed by a Noun Harder run moving the chains. At first and 10 from midfield, senior Conner Maston chased down a ball thrown 35 yards by sophomore Lannon Mont-gomery. He was horsecollared on the tackle to add more yards to the play and put the Hawks at first and goal from the four-yard line. Noun Harder found the endzone again for the Hawks’ third touchdown of the first quarter with 3:22 left. Hawks led, 19-0.
Early in the second, with the ball back in the Hawks’ possession, a series of run plays moved the chains. The Hawks’ next touch-down came through the air when Montgomery connected with Maston for a 28-yard touchdown reception. The direct snap went to Maston, who ran across the goal line for the two-point conversion, and the Hawks went up, 27-0, with 11:12 left in the first half.
The Hawks’ fifth touchdown of the first half came on a 40-yard run by senior Kyle Squires. Sieck’s PAT was good, and the Hawks were up, 34-0, with 4:57 left in the half. Lynnville-Sully continued to wreak havoc on Belle Plaine’s game plan. Senior Jager Huyser’s pressure in the backfield resulted in a BP fumble recovered by freshman Dawson James. The Hawks capitalized, and with just under two minutes left in the half, Montgomery slipped into the endzone on a short one-yard carry. The PAT was good, and the Hawks led, 41-0, at the half.
Conner Maston, who ranks fourth in Class A with eight touchdown receptions, hauls in a 35-yard catch in the first half against BP. The Maston-from-Montgomery combination averages 28 yards per catch.
L-S wasted no time in the second half to increase its lead. With less than a minute off the clock, Noun Harder had a long 58-yard run into the endzone again. The PAT by Sieck was good, and the Hawks led, 48-0, with 11:07 left in the third.
Belle Plaine finally crossed the endzone late in the third, and they added another touchdown midway through the fourth. It was the Hawks who had the last scoring barrage. Late in the fourth quarter, L-S had to bring out its punt team for the first time all night. Maston got off a 35-yard punt that was bobbled by Belle Plaine and recovered by senior Kale Ehresman. At first and 10 at the Plainsmen’s 16-yard line, sophomore Aidan Stock got in the stat books with a nine-yard touchdown carry. Junior Valentijn Niet’s PAT was good, and the Hawks secured their undefeated regular season with a 55-14 win.
The Hawks tallied 254 yards on the ground and 107 through the air in the offensive onslaught. Noun Harder ran for 165 yards on six carries and had three touchdowns. Squires got the ball five times for 42 yards and one touchdown. Nikkel ran for 39 yards, and Stock racked up 30 yards and a touchdown. Montgomery had a short one-yard run into the endzone.
In the air, Maston caught two passes for 63 yards and one touchdown. Noun Harder had three catches for 45 yards. Montgomery was perfect in his passing attempts, going five-for-five for 107 yards and one touchdown pass.
The defensive charge was led by senior Lane Fisk, who had a monster night with 17.5 tackles. Squires was in the double digits for tackles with 10.5. Huyser was credited with five tackles, as was James. Seniors Mathias Torres and Caleb Rea each were credited with 4.5 hits.
The kickoff team was busy on Friday as the Hawks hung 55 points on the scoreboard. Sieck kicked off nine times for 436 yards. Four of his five PATs were successful. Niet made his only PAT on the night.
The punt team only had to come on the field once, and Maston kicked a 35 yarder that was fumbled by Belle Plaine on the catch and recovered by senior Kale Ehresman. James had the Hawks’ other fumble recovery in the first half.
The 2022 undefeated season is the Hawks’ first since 2017, and only the seventh in Lynnville-Sully Football history. Lynnville-Sully’s JV team also finished the 2022 season with an undefeated record for the second-consecutive year. The varsity team outscored regular-season opponents this fall, 371-55.
The Hawks, who clinched the district championship with the Oct. 7 win over Ogden, now set their focus to Friday’s first round of Class A playoffs. The 8-0 Hawks will face Earlham (3-5) on Friday, Oct. 21, at 7 p.m. Head coach Mike Parkinson is proud of the efforts of every member of the Hawk roster, and he is excited about the opportunity ahead. “Now to the playoffs – the road to the Dome runs through L-S!” said coach Parkinson.
Tickets to the playoff game must be purchased online prior to the game at www.iahsaa.org/tickets. A link is also available on Lynnville-Sully’s website, lshawks.com. If the Hawks win on Friday, L-S will also host the second round of playoffs on Friday, Oct. 28.
