March 29, 2024

Tenth-ranked Lynnville-Sully blanks Cardinal

ELDON — Big play after big play, Class A 10th-ranked Lynnville-Sully’s Hawks overpowered the Cardinal Comets, 74-0, in Friday’s Class A District 6 contest at Eldon.

“We played a clean football game with no turnovers. We won it up front as our offensive and defensive lines dominated the line of scrimmage,” Lynnville-Sully head coach Mike Parkinson said. “We still have plenty to work on as we continue in district play.”

Amassing 458 yards of total offense for the game, the Hawks rolled to a 68-0 halftime lead, triggering a running clock for the entire second half. They had 369 yards on the ground against the Comets.

Sage Zylstra and Gage Vander Leest scored three rushing TDs apiece. Zylstra, who had 124 yards on seven carries, began the scoring onslaught with a 10-yard touchdown run with 10:05 left in the first quarter. Vander Leest, who had 88 yards on five carries, followed with a 10-yard TD run two minutes later.

Evan Squires scored on a 4-yard run at the 6:36 mark then Tyson Vander Linden hauled in a 7-yard TD pass from Elijah Collins a minute later. Vander Leest dashed 38 yards to paydirt with 2:21 left in the opening period. Brevin Hansen kicked four extra-points in the first quarter to help the Hawks take a 34-0 lead.

On the first play of the second quarter, Zylstra broke loose for a 15-yard TD run with Hansen kicking the extra point. Following a Comet turnover, Squires had a 6-yard TD run at the 10:55 mark.

Nate Stock, who had 83 yards on two carries, ripped off a 61-yard touchdown run followed by a 59-yard scoring run by Zylstra. Vander Leest found the end zone for the third time on a 14-yard run with 1:11 left in the second quarter.

Hansen had two more PAT kicks and Hannes Van der Meer kicked the final one in the first half. Both kickers attempted field goals in the game but didn’t make them.

“We have a lot of skill guys and we want to get them a lot of offensive snaps, but tonight we had big play after big play. We really didn’t have much of a chance to get a guy working with a lot of snaps,” Parkinson said. “We even attempted the field goals. We need to work on special teams play.”

Collins and Kinnick McFarland each threw touchdown passes. Kodie Waggoner pulled in a 4-yard scoring strike from McFarland as the lone score in the second half.

Vander Leest had 88 yards on five carries and Squires had 27 yards on four carries. Ten Hawk players had positive rushing yardage in the game.

Lynnville-Sully’s defense had three takeaways with Stock and Carson Dunsbergen making interceptions and Zylstra recovering a fumble. Jesse Van Wyk and Zane Fraker each recorded a quarterback sack for the Hawks.

Cardinal quarterback Trey Albert led his team in rushing — nine carries for 41 yards — and went 2-for-9 passing for nine yards. Kade Chance made both catches for the Comets, who had 54 yards of total offense.

Stock was credited with six tackles for the Lynnville-Sully defense. Vander Leest, Zylstra and Kemper Lukehart each had five tackles.

The Hawks (4-0) take a 2-0 district mark into Friday’s game at Winfield-Mount Union.

“We have some strong teams coming up on the schedule in district play. We have Winfield-Mount Union this next week then Pekin comes in,” Parkinson said. “Our guys will continue to work hard and improve.”

Pekin (5-0, 2-0) is ranked No. 7 in Class A and plays at Lynnville-Sully on Sept. 29.

Contact Jocelyn Sheets at
641-792-3121 ext. 6535
or jsheets@newtondailynews.com