Hawks snuff out late Bloodhound rally

FORT MADISON - Colton Taft grabbed victory out of the air and, after running for a few yards, realized he didn’t have to go any farther.
The Central Lee senior went to a knee as time ran out, his interception sealing the 14-7 win over Fort Madison on Friday night at Richmond Stadium.
The Hawks (2-1) left their final non-district game of the season with momentum for the future, while the Bloodhounds (0-3) were left to ponder the defeat.
“I thought we played together,” Central Lee coach Doug Dodds said. “We stayed together as a team, and we built each other up. And I think it really showed tonight. Our guys played team football. It wasn't about any individuals tonight. Our guys represented our community and their team in a great way.”
“Going into districts, we’ve got a bright future ahead of us,” said senior Peter Seyb, who rushed for 95 yards and scored both of the Hawks’ touchdowns. “We just got to keep it up, and keep the steamroll going.”
The Bloodhounds, even after losing starting quarterback Stefan Berlett to an ankle injury, had their chances. Moses Thacher’s 3-yard touchdown run with 21.2 seconds left in the game got them within striking distance, then after Fort Madison recovered the ensuing onside kick backup quarterback Aurelio Jaciunde got the ball to the Central Lee 38-yard line before throwing the interception to Taft.
Fort Madison got deep into Central Lee territory twice in the first half, including getting to the Hawks’ 7 before Thacher’s fourth-down run was stopped, and could not get any points.
“There’s the ball game right there,” Fort Madison coach Derek Doherty said. “We show our youth a lot when we get down there. I have to watch the film to fully understand what the issues are. It’s mind-boggling to me, to be quite honest. We drive the ball, move the ball, we’re moving the ball at will, and we get into scoring territory and it’s like we turn into different people.”
The Bloodhounds opened the game with an efficient 9-play drive that took 5:35 off the clock, but they were stopped on fourth-and-3 at the Central Lee 30.
The Hawks then had the answer, going 72 yards in nine plays, a drive finished by Seyb’s 14-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 lead.

“We played team football, and that's what we preach, and the guys believe it,” Dodds said. “And it shows up on nights like this.”
“That’s what we needed to do,” Seyb said. “Our defense needed to settle in and stop them early, and we did that, and then our offense went down and scored.”
Seyb’s second touchdown run came with 59 seconds left in the first half, and the Bloodhounds went into halftime not only down by double digits, but without Berlett, who was injured after throwing an interception late in the second quarter.
Jaciunde handled the backup role well — he rushed for 75 yards and was 7-of-14 passing for 67 yards.
“I told him when he got called that I believe in him,” Doherty said. “I fully do now. Are there some things that we need to sharpen up? Yeah, and I know that he's the type of kid that, now that it's going to be his (job), he'll work at it. He's a competitor. You wish that all of our guys had that fire inside of them.”
Thacher, who had 22 carries for 92 yards, scored to put pressure on the Hawks, a pressure that grew after the Bloodhounds got the onside kick.
Taft’s pick, the fourth of the night for the Hawks, ended their hopes.
Central Lee opens Class 2A District 6 play at West Liberty next Friday.
“Every win’s a big win,” Dodds said. “We're really happy about that. I'm proud of our kids for that, and they know that it sets the tone for what's coming next week, because West Liberty is going to be a really tough football team.”
Fort Madison opens Class 3A District 4 play at Mount Vernon.
“We’re fighting every day and trying to build with them, build winning habits,” Doherty said. “They work hard and they try hard, but we're just missing that competitive grit right now.”