The Hampton-Dumont-CAL football team was close to orchestrating a second half comeback, but fell 18-16 at Webster City Friday, as aired on 104.9 KLMJ.
Webster City took control in the first quarter with two rushing touchdowns by spinner back Luke Estlund. The Bulldogs fumbled on their first possession and gave up a safety on their second possession for a 16-0 Lynx lead.
Colin Bird scored a nine-yard rushing touchdown, and the Bulldogs got within one possession at 16-8 with a two-point conversion in the second quarter. In the third quarter, Ryder Strother was sacked in his own end zone for the night’s second safety, giving Webster City an 18-8 lead. In the fourth, Bird caught a touchdown reception from Strother to get within two. But the Bulldogs went four-and-out in the closing minutes, allowing Webster City to run out the clock.
“Probably our worst start in the first quarter of the year,” Head Coach Cole Miller says. “Started really, really flat. There was not a whole lot of energy. And they went down and drove it on us right away and were able to do really anything that they wanted to in that first drive. And then we turned around on our first possession and muffed a kick return and then fumbled the ball on a good run. But we just shot ourselves in the foot so many times that first quarter. And then that was kind of the story of the night, is we’d get something going, and then we’d make a mistake. And that just put us too far behind the chains, so our offense couldn’t really get going. But we knew it was gonna be a tough physical football game and that’s definitely what it was.”
Bird had nine carries for 57 yards. Taylor Mahler had 15 carries for 43 yards. Strother was 6/13 for 84 yards passing.
Hampton-Dumont-CAL (2-4, 0-2 3A-2) will return to action next week by hosting #1 (3A) Clear Lake.
Cole Miller interview:
