L-S football closes out regular season with win over Earlham

SULLY — A fast start powered the Lynnville-Sully football team against Earlham in the regular-season finale on Senior night.

Gavin Fisk and Dawson James scored first-quarter touchdowns to give the Hawks an early lead and a 6-yard TD run by James in the second kept the hosts in front during a 20-15 victory over the Cardinals on Friday.

The Class A District 6 game was suspended with 2:39 to play in the first half before becoming an official result.

Both schools’ administrations agreed to the decision as district placings were already determined before the night began.

The Hawks open the postseason as the No. 1 seed from District 6 and will host Wapello (3-5) at 7 p.m. on Oct. 24 in Sully.

The Cardinals are the No. 4 seed from the district and they travel to undefeated and No. 8 Pekin.

Lynnville-Sully posted its second straight win over Earlham. It was their first meeting since 2022.

The Hawks, who have won seven straight since a Week 1 loss to 1A No. 6 Pleasantville, got a 36-yard TD run from Fisk with 8:19 to play in the first.

Dawson James’ first TD covered 1 yard late in the period. L-S converted the 2-point conversion on a pass from Connor Deal to Jack Bowlin.

James answered the Cardinals’ first touchdown with a 6-yard TD run with 9:42 left in the half.

Cash Eitel grabbed a pair of touchdown passes from Brady Reynolds to lead Earlham, but the Cardinals fell to 3-3 in district play after the loss.

The Hawks had a 7-5 advantage in first downs. L-S won the game despite 60 penalty yards.

Fisk led Lynnville-Sully (7-1, 6-0 in the district) with 70 yards and one TD on seven carries and James added 41 yards and two scores on six carries.

Deal was 3-of-5 through the air for 82 yards. Bowlin caught two passes for 68 yards and Burt Johnson grabbed one pass for 14 yards. Bowlin’s night also included 56 yards on two punt returns.

James led the defense with four tackles. Michael Spooner had 3.5 tackles, Henry Sharp and Fisk each totaled three tackles and Cameyon James posted two tackles for loss.

Both of Reynolds’ completions went to Eitel for 62 yards. But Earlham (4-4) was limited to 35 rushing yards on 17 carries.

The 11 Hawk seniors recognized before the game were Bowlin, Richards, Deal, Spooner, Johnson, Dawson James, Wyatt Mathis, Landyn Fisk, Ben Squires, Boston Agan and Evan Van Zee.

Wapello, Lynnville-Sully’s first-round opponent, started the season 5-1 but dropped its final two regular season games. The Indians lost 45-32 to Van Buren and dropped a 33-31 decision to Danville.