WAVERLY From the beginning, things didnt go right for Southern Coffey County and their head coach Trevor Smith Friday.
The ended with a 62-14 loss at Waverly in the 8-Man DII regional final.
The undefeated Bulldogs gave the 6-4 Titans fits all night in every aspect of the game. They move on to a sectional matchup with Axtell while Southern Coffey County ends on of the better seasons in recent memory.
They fundamentally just owned us from the start, Smith said. Thats what (Waverly head coach Mike Hevel) coached teams do. They own the fundamentals and force you to make plays and tonight we just couldnt do that. Our guys wanted it, but they were just too much to handle.
The game marks the second time the two teams have played with Waverly also winning the opening matchup at home 58-28.
Despite trailing only 28-14 at the half, the Titans were in a hole after the first minute of the ballgame.
After getting the ball to start the game, senior Dawson Leimkuhler ran back a kick in the opening seconds that was then called back to midfield for holding. The play after that, Leimkuhler broke free on his longest run of the game that ended in a fumble recovery for Waverly.
Two plays later, the Bulldogs broke free on one of their five scoring plays of 40 yards or more, this one a 65-yard touchdown run.
The Bulldogs struck fast throughout the game, scoring touchdowns from 44 yards, 44 yards (twice), 67 yards, 61 yards and 48 yards on the final play of the ballgame.
The Bulldogs triggered the mercy rule with a little over three minutes to play in the fourth quarter.
Smith did wonder how differently the game wouldve gone, at least initiall,y if the Titans wouldve scored on that opening kickoff or if Leimkuhler didnt fumble on that first drive.
I think it probably changes a lot, Smith said. If we score first, we have the momentum and the confidence to go out and assert our will. But we cant get caught up in ifs.
Both Titan touchdowns came in a solid second quarter.
The first came courtesy of Cooper Harred who punched it in from two yards out after quarterback Jett Harvey connected with Kolgan Ohl on a 30-plus yard pass followed by a nifty option keeper by Harvey to get the Titans to the goal line.
Later in the half, it would be Harvey again, this time on the quarterback sneak to cut the Waverly lead to just two touchdowns after Leimkuhler ran in the two-point conversion.
But that was all. Waverly tightened up in the second half, especially in the red zone and slowly crushed the Titans confidence and spirit with big play after big play until the mercy rule was triggered.
