Dominant defense leads L-S football to district win over Blue Devils

MARTENSDALE — The Lynnville-Sully football team rushed for 230 yards and averaged 10 yards per carry against Martensdale-St. Marys on Friday night.

The defense did the rest as the Hawks registered 10 tackles for loss, picked off four passes and returned three of them for touchdowns during a 62-6 road win over the Blue Devils in Class A District 6 play.

The Hawks led 16-0 after one quarter and scored 56 unanswered points before the hosts stopped the shutout with 5 minutes to play in the game.

It was the district opener for Lynnville-Sully, which improved to 5-1 against Martensdale-St. Marys since 2008. It was the Hawks’ third straight win over the Blue Devils.

The three interception returns for touchdowns tied a school record that was first set last season against Martensdale-St. Marys.

Dawson James and Gavin Fisk each ran for two scores and returned an interception for a touchdown in the win.

James got the scoring going with a 44-yard TD run and then ran in the two-point conversion.

Jack Bowlin’s 44-yard TD catch from Connor Deal helped push the margin to 16-0 after one quarter.

James added a 2-yard TD run early in the second and returned his interception 69 yards for a score late in the quarter.

Fisk’s first TD run covered 17 yards and it came with 5:31 to play in the half. Deal added a 31-yard pick six early in the period as the Hawks outscored the Blue Devils 26-0 in the second.

The 14-0 third quarter was all Fisk as he returned his interception 55 yards for the score and added a 34-yard TD run.

Henry Sharp capped the victory with a 6-yard TD run with 44 seconds to play in the game.

Lynnville-Sully (2-1, 1-0 in the district) had a 9-8 advantage in first downs despite the blowout.

The Hawks, who have outscored their last two opponents, 112-6, held the Blue Devils to 20 rushing yards on 22 carries.

Fisk led the offense with 87 yards and two TDs on seven carries. James ran for 57 yards and scored two TDs on three carries.

Deal was 4-of-8 through the air for 71 yards and one TD. Sharp ran for 23 yards and one TD on four carries, Burt Johnson gained 21 yards on two carries, Carsen Kottenstette had 23 yards on two carries and Jace Johnson ran for 18 yards on two carries.

Bowlin led the receivers with 58 yards and a TD on two catches. JD Richards gained seven yards on his only catch and Jace Johnson and Dylan Rea both had six-yard receptions. It was the first career varsity catch for Rea.

Dawson James led the defense with eight tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, one pick 6 and a forced fumble.

Fisk totaled 6.5 tackles and the pick 6, Jaxson Merten tallied six tackles and two tackles for loss, Cameyon James chipped in three tackles, Ashton Rozendaal snagged an interception and Michael Spooner recovered a fumble.

It was the first career pick 6 for Dawson James, Fisk and Deal.

Trenton Jellison led the Blue Devils (1-2, 0-2) with three catches for 65 yards and one TD.