Hounds need to stop explosive plays

FORT MADISON – The parades are over. The King and Queen have been crowned. And now it’s time for the Bloodhound football team to get down to business.
The Hounds (2-2) take on Keokuk at home Friday night in what will likely be an emotionally charged four quarters for the County Seat.
Fort Madison comes in after a spunky game with No. 9 Mt. Vernon last week where the Mustangs shut down the Fort Madison passing attack allowing quarterback Owen Huffman just 15 yards through the air. But junior Mo Thacher had another strong game out of the backfield rushing for 179 yards. The Bloodhound defense gave up about 400 yards of offense, but several of those plays were big plays where Fort Madison got outraced down the field with junior Aurelio Jaciunde on the sidelines in a knee brace.
Thacher is closing in on 700 yards on the ground this year and looks to become Fort Madison’s first 1,000-yard rusher since Alex Gully in 2017.
Outside of last week’s tough row, Huffman has had a decent start to the season throwing for 417 yards and five touchdowns with only one interception. He’s been very good at decision making in the pocket and on reads, and isn’t afraid to take off with the ball averaging 4.5 yards per carry.
Keokuk will rely on Jadyn Burton at quarterback and the Hounds will likely get after him. Burton averages just 1.8 yards per carry on 34 attempts and has five interceptions on the year. The Chiefs’ running attack is led by freshman Jeff Hotop who has 194 yards and a touchdown on 40 carries. Antonio Crockett has eight carries for 83 yards for a 13.8 yard average off mostly read plays.
The Chiefs want to win through the air first and then mix in the run. They have three receivers with more than 100 yards on the season, led by  junior Kurt Joy who has 442 yards on 20 catches and five touchdowns. Crockett has 192 yards and three scores and Jalen Clark has 112 yards and a touchdown.
The Homecoming week is always a week of distractions for student athletes and coaches, but Head Coach Derek Doherty said as long as the Hounds focus on the process, the games should be a good one.
“If you can keep your attention where it’s supposed to be, Homecoming is a fun week. A rivalry like this can be a fun week, but the main thing is the main thing,” he said.

Doherty said focus has been good at practice.
“This always comes down to the task you have. Alignment assignment football.  Can you hand it or can you not handle it - and it’s been a good week,” Doherty said.
The Hounds unfortunately will be without standout receiver and returner Jaciunde who went down with a knee injury in week 3 against Central Lee. Doherty said with  the junior looking at one more year everyone is playing it safe.
“He is thinking, and we are all thinking, about his senior year, so we won’t have him back,” Doherty said.
He said reviewing video from last week’s game the Hounds were schematically fairly sound, but they gave up too many explosive plays and the wheels fell off. He said this week the Bloodhounds will have to fight off big plays again.
“It comes down to doing your job. We’re facing some of the same guys as last year and they are good. There’s no reason for them not to be good. Crockett is a problem and their skills guys are good,” he said.
“They’re going to get some yards, but we have to minimize explosives, while creating some of our own.”
The Hounds and Chiefs get going at 7:30 p.m. Friday on Youel Field in Richmond Stadium in Fort Madison.