High School Football: Humboldt 54, Southeast-Cherokee 12
HUMBOLDT A statistics wonk would have been enamoured by Humboldts 54-12 victory over Southeast of Cherokee here Friday night and not because it was yet again a lopsided victory for the Cubs.
Humboldt won the class 2A District I championship, without any pretenders.
The 8-0 undefeated regular season was the Cubs first since 1982; prior to that it was 1968.
In the previous seven victories, Coach Logan Wyrick has given his regulars a series in the second half. Last night one regular played after intermission, necessitated by an injury.
The Cub defense was so imposing that the Lancers first half offensive output was limited to four yards passing; they lost 29 yards on 18 rushes.
The Lancers didnt register their initial first down until 7:42 in the third period, and that came with Southeast regulars still in the game going against Humboldt reserves.
Gavin Page, No. 3 on the quarterback chart, had something of a coming-out party on the last series of the game. He rushed three times for 19 yards and completed the only pass he threw for nine yards. Significant is that Page didnt play football in middle school.
The only negative was Humboldt turned the ball over twice, a fumble and intercepted pass. In the first seven games the Cubs had three turnovers, total. I should have run the ball, Quarterback Dagen Goodner said of his intercepted pass, instead of throwing into coverage.
GOODNER and Conor Haviland had their usual laudable outings.
Haviland had seven carries for 117 yards; Goodner six for 70. Goodner completed two of eight passes for 91 yards, including one to Haviland for 42.
The game began favorably for the Cubs. Southeast downed the opening kick an onsides maneuver at Humboldts 49. On the first play the pass from center soared over the quarterbacks head and nestled to the turf at the 24, in Goodners clutches.
Humboldt’s first play, a dart at the right side of the line by Haviland, may have given the visitors some hope; he being downed for no gain. Not to worry, Goodner said with his body language. He snapped a pass to Kyler Allen, good for 21 yards. With 56 seconds gone in the game, Goodner pranced three yards to the end zone. He also ran for two points.
Another feeble effort by Southeast ended with one of a series of punts out of bounds, apparently meant to keep the ball out of Havilands hands, and avoid his fabled ability to return kicks for TDs.
This time it took just two plays, runs of 28 and 21 yards by Haviland, to put up the second touchdown at 9:12.
From then on, it was Katy bar the door.
