Waukon football team opens season with 45-6 home loss to Waverly-Shell Rock
Braden with the block ... Waukon football senior Braden Hemann goes airborne to block this Waverly-Shell Rock punt just prior to halftime of the Indians’ 45-6 loss at home to the Go-Hawks Saturday, August 28. In addition to the blocked punt, Hemann also wrapped up one each of solo and assisted tackles and caught three passes for 43 yards in the ballgame. View and find out how to purchase this photo and many more by clicking on the Photo Galleries link on this webpage.
by Perry Hesse
The Waukon football team suffered a disappointing season opener Saturday afternoon, August 28 losing 45-6 to Class 4A Waverly Shell-Rock (WSR). The game was postponed from the previous evening due to thunderstorms in the area and the football field soaked with over four inches of rain in the previous 48 hours. The weather also caused the cancellation of the freshman game Friday night.
The game was a mirror image to last season when Waukon trounced the Go-Hawks, 45-10, using a veteran team to roll over a team with several sophomores in the starting line-up. However, now that the Indians lost a good amount of starters from last year’s State Championship team, the Go-Hawks now had a clear advantage with 18 returning starters.
“We knew Waverly Shell-Rock would be a tough match-up for us,” said Waukon head football coach Chad Beermann. “Any time you step up to play a school more than twice your size, you would expect to have a talent disadvantage. We were also at a severe experience disadvantage.”
Waukon received the ball to open the game but a botched hand-off on its very first play from scrimmage was recovered by the visitors. And Waverly needed just five plays for a 17-yard drive capped by a quick swing pass to Asa Newsom. The PAT kick was good and Waverly led 7-0 early.
“We took the ball first hoping to get a score and build some confidence. Instead, we had the turnover and found ourselves in a hole right away,” added Beermann.
The Indian offense would struggle all night and a punt allowed Waverly possession on the Waukon 27-yard line. Six plays later the visitors took a 13-0 lead with a counter score by Sean Mwangi. The PAT kick was missed.
The Indians will travel to Decorah this Friday, September 3 to face another Class 4A team from its own Northeast Iowa Conference (NEIC). The Vikings posted an impressive 41-14 victory over fellow NEIC squad Crestwood to open the season. The Waukon-Decorah game has always been a contest where records can be thrown out and lots of hitting can be expected.
“Decorah had a nice win,” said Beermann. “They looked like what you expect from Decorah. Very solid on defense and in the kicking game. They are continuing to open up their offense, so they will be a challenge.”
The freshman game at Decorah is scheduled for a 5 p.m. start with varsity to follow at 7:30 p.m. The grid Tribe will then wrap up its non-district schedule against a third consecutive NEIC foe when they travel to Crestwood Friday, September 10.
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