High School Football: Cubs 63, Red Devils 0
HUMBOLDT The dictionary defines juggernaut: A huge, powerful and overwhelming force
The definition is just as fitting for Humboldt Highs football team.
To wit: Friday night the Cubs dismantled Erie, 63-0, to improve their record to 5-0, and 2-0 in district play.
As has been the case in each of the victories Humboldt has outscored its opponents 282-19 it nearly takes a thesaurus to find enough superlatives to describe how thorough the Cubs have been, and were again Friday, in dispatching their foes.
In most cases a coach would relish the chance to build early and substantial leads none less than 42 points by halftime in the five games and then season reserves with extended playing time in the second half.
Coach Logan Wyrick has done that, but it comes with a caveat: Id like for the starters to get more reps under game conditions.
In the first half against Erie Humboldt had 13 plays from scrimmage, albeit the Cubs did total 153 yards and they did score six touchdowns before intermission.
The second period was particularly trying from that perspective.
Conor Haviland, in the mold of the wing-shod mythological Mercury, snatched up a misplayed punt by a teammate and in a workmanlike manner returned it down the sideline, essentially untouched, for a touchdown with just 1:17 gone in the second period.
A minute and a half later, after the pass from center spiraled over the Erie punters head and was downed at the Red Devils 16, Haviland pranced in for a second touchdown.
Erie responded with its only drive of consequence by picking up two first downs albeit with some first-line Cub defenders on the sidelines, itching to return and drove to the Humboldt 25 before disaster struck. A holding penalty, a pass completion that lost a yard, a rush for negative-four yards and another penalty moved the ball to the 50.
Another punt, same result: Haviland took the ball in at the Cub 25, took a few strides to his right and then reversed his field and darted unmolested through flailing Red Devils.
Humboldt closed out its second period onslaught the Cubs ran just four plays from scrimmage in the quarter with an efficient drive covering 46 yards in a minutes time. Quarterback Dagen Goodner, whose passion for the sport is legendary, misfired on a pass, before shooting a spiral to Tucker Hurst in the left flat, who in turn caught Haviland in full strike with a lateral. Haviland was tripped up at the 8. On the next play Goodner fired to Teryn Johnson, who split defensive backs being nicely blocked his mates and ran to the end zone.
Goodners kick made it 49-0, and ensured the second half, by virtue of the mercy rules running clock, would have the after-game homecoming dance start in good time.
Goodner and Aricah McCall were crowned homecoming king and queen in halftime ceremonies.
