No. 1 Valley spoils H.A. Lynn opener

Newton senior Roger Braun returns a kickoff early in the first quarter Friday during action at newly renovated H.A. Lynn Stadium. The Cardinals lost to Valley, 63-12, and are now 1-3 on the season. Troy Hyde/Daily News

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Newton coach Ed Ergenbright expected top-ranked West Des Moines Valley to be very good Friday. They were very good and then some as the Tigers spoiled the Cardinals’ home opener at new H.A. Lynn Stadium. Valley scored on its first play from scrimmage, led 49-0 at halftime and rested its starters the entire second half in a 63-12 win. “They are better than I thought,” Ergenbright said. “And I thought they were really good. I have not seen a team that efficient on offense. They do everything well. You just have to tip your hat to them and move on.” Zach Cutkomp zigged and zagged his way to a score on the first offensive play from scrimmage as he scampered 80 yards for the touchdown. Cutkomp added two short scores later in the first half and Valley quarterback Taylor Nelson ran for a 39-yard score and threw for two more as the Tigers dominated from the opening kickoff and remained unbeaten on the season. “The kids aren’t happy with their performance tonight, but they will come back,” Ergenbright said. “They want to do well.” Newton managed two scores against Valley’s second-team defense in the second half. Gavin Rodewald scored from 1-yard out and Josh Illingworth added a 15-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter. However, the Cardinals managed just two first downs in the first half and turned it over four times for the third straight game. They are now 1-3 on the season and play at Fort Dodge this week. “We were ready to go,” Ergenbright said. “I am frustrated most with the mistakes. You give it away against Valley, they’ll turn it into points. We better fix that or we are in trouble the rest of the way.” Newton had trouble moving the ball against Valley’s big and fast first-team defense, which has not given up a single point this season. The Cardinals began their first drive with a six-yard run by Mike Flanagan and then gained a first down following a penalty by the Tigers. It would be Newton’s only first down until about 6:30 to go in the second quarter. The Cards punted on their first two possessions, and Dustin Brisel was picked off by Jon Rose on the third possession and a fumble on the next possession by Rodewald was the last play of the first quarter for Newton. Valley scored on three of its four possessions in the quarter to lead 21-0 after one. “We lined up in the wrong spots on defense all night,” Ergenbright said. “We had never done that this year. It was a bad night for that to happen.” The fumble by Rodewald set up Valley at the Newton 6-yard line, and Cutkomp scored from 1 yard out two plays later. A three and out by Newton on its next possession gave Valley another short field. Cutkomp culiminated a five-play, 43-yard drive with a 2-yard score. The second first down of the first half came on the next Newton possession as Illingworth rumbled 10 yards on an option. Three plays later, however, the Cardinals were punting, and Valley needed just four plays to go 60 yards as Nelson hit Ryan Cawley on a 17-yard touchdown pass play. Newton played good defense on the play, but Cawley won the jump ball, making an acrobatic play in the back of the end zone to put Valley up 42-0. Following another three and out by Newton, Valley scored its final touchdown of the half with 13 seconds on the clock. The drive consisted of five plays and 46 yards. Newton got a 12-yard sack on the drive, and the Tigers committed a holding penalty but two big pass plays from Nelson to Taylor Hilderbrand covered 66 yards, and Chad Stapes culminated the drive with a 1-yard plunge. Stapes added another score in the third quarter as Valley’s lead grew to 56-0 before Newton finally broke the scoreboard with 11:56 to play in the game. Newton’s first scoring drive featured six plays and 65 yards. Flanagan’s 20-yard run, Illingworth’s 25-yard rumble and three Valley penalties highlighted the scoring drive. “If we continue to improve, we can play with every team left on our schedule,” Ergenbright said. “We played two pretty good teams in back-to-back weeks. We just have to move on and get better.” Newton took advantage of Valley’s only miscue on the night a bit later in the quarter. Back-up running back Zach Taylor fumbled the ball right into the hands of Tyler Latcham and the junior linebacker hurried down field to the Valley 22-yard line. Three plays later Illingworth scored from 15 yards out to make it 56-12. “The effort has been there,” Ergenbright said. “They have worked hard since Day 1. They want to get better, and I think they will.” Notes: Plenty of fans worked their way into H.A. Lynn Stadium to see the new artificial turf. Most of the fans also stuck around after the game was already decided at halftime. ... Valley has scored at least 54 points in three of its four games this year. The Tigers have outscored opponents, 196-40, and are the clear-cut favorite “in the clubhouse” to win their fourth state title since 2002. ... Newton’s 63-12 loss was the program’s worst defeat since the 1973 Cardinals lost to Waterloo East, 67-0. ... Valley outgained Newton, 471-131. Cutkomp finished with 134 yards on 12 carries in the first half. Nelson threw for 157 and ran for another 31. ... Newton was led by Illingworth’s 59 yards.

At Newton West Des Moines Valley 63, Newton 12

Scoring by quarters WDM Valley 21 28 7 7 — 63 Newton 0 0 0 12 — 12

Scoring summary First quarter Valley: Zach Cutkomp 80 run (Michael Hovick kick), 11:46. Valley: Taylor Nelson 34 run (Hovick kick), 3:08. Valley: Taylor Hilderbrand 18 catch from Nelson (Hovick kick), 1:05 Second quarter Valley: Cutkomp 1 run (Hovick kick), 11:07. Valley: Cutkomp 2 run (Hovick kick), 7:08. Valley: Ryan Cawley 17 catch from Nelson (Hovick kick), 3:58. Valley: Chad Stapes 1 run (Hovick kick), 0:13. Third quarter Valley: Stapes 2 run (Hovick kick), 3:32. Fourth Quarter Newton: Gavin Rodewald 1 run (kick failed), 11:56. Newton: Josh Illingworth 15 run (kick failed), 3:32. Valley: Zach Taylor 53 run (Guendel kick), 1:33.

Team Stats Valley Newton First Downs 18 7 Rushes-Yards 33-305 30-122 Passing Yards 166 9 Passes-Att-Comp-Int 15-10-0 4-3-1 Total Offense-Yards 48-471 34-131 Fumble Return-Yards 0-0 1-28 Punt Return-Yards 5-69 0-0 Kickoff Return-Yards 2-55 8-111 Interception-Yards 1-15 0-0 Punts (Number-Avg.) 0-0 6-33 Fumbles-Lost 2-2 4-3 Penalties-Yards 9-53 4-30 Possession Time 27:27 20:33 Sacks by: No.-Yards 1-7 1-12

Individual statistics Rushing — Valley: Cutkomp 12-134, Taylor 10-115, Nelson 4-31, Stapes 6-23, Travis Haney, 1-2. Newton: Illingworth 7-59, Mike Flanagan 7-44, Bryce Udelhoven 2-19, Gavin Rodewald 9-9, Jamison Poe 1-2, Dustin Brisel 4-(-11). Passing — Valley: Nelson 9-13-0-157, Garth Gripenberg, 1-2-0-9. Newton: Brisel 3-4-1-9. Receiving — Valley: Hilderbrand 6-107, Cawley 3-50, Kirby VanDerKamp 1-9. Newton: Roger Braun 2-10, Flanagan 1-(-1).