Davis County pulls away late in win over Hawks

BY JOHN BOHNENKAMP
PCC SPORTS

DONNELLSON - Central Lee football coach Chuck Banks is seeing progress.
Friday’s 33-14 home loss to Davis County wasn’t the desired outcome, but in a season when everyone makes the playoffs, it’s about getting better for October.
Still, the 0-4 Hawks would like to get a win to show for their effort.
“These kids hate it. They hate losing,” Banks said. “They’re a competitive group. But at the end of the day, they understand we have to get a little better.”
The Hawks were within 20-14 in the third quarter before Davis County (3-1) got two fourth-quarter touchdowns to put away the game.
“Hands down, the best defensive effort I’ve seen all year,” Banks said. “Even giving up 33 points, (the game) was closer than that.”
The Hawks struck right away with a four-minute touchdown drive to open the game. Connor Moore’s 1-yard run put Central Lee up, 7-0.
Davis County answered quickly. Gavin McCall’s 3-yard touchdown run on the Mustangs’ next possession closed the lead to 7-6, then another 3-yard touchdown run by McCall, followed by his two-point conversion run, in the second quarter gave Davis County a 14-7 lead.
When Clayton Smith scored on a 4-yard run late in the second quarter, the Mustangs took a 20-7 lead into halftime.
But Central Lee wasn’t going to go away. Moore’s 8-yard touchdown run cut the lead to 20-14.
The Mustangs took control in the fourth quarter. Carson Maeder threw two touchdown passes, an 8-yarder to Caeden Glosser and a 15-yarder to Clayton Smith, for the final margin.
Central Lee had four costly turnovers — three interceptions and a lost fumble.
“Turnovers the last three games have been the difference, hands down,” Banks said.
But Central Lee forced three turnovers of its own, including an 85-yard interception return from the Davis County goal line by Jaxon Betker.
McCall rushed for 127 yards and Maeder threw for 187 to lead the Mustangs.
Jaedon Betker rushed for 112 yards to lead Central Lee.