Hawks get first win of the season, 37-0
Iowa Park’s Mean Green ground out more yardage Thursday in Memorial Stadium than Coach Chris Ellis had seen in any single game for the past 15 years, and a stingy Hawk defense kept the Hirschi Huskies out of the endzone all night enroute to a 37-0 win.

For Iowa Park, it is the first win of the 2008 season after seven straight losses, and a 1-2 record in District 5-3A going into tomorrow night’s matchup with Burkburnett.

The Hawks ground out 466 yards on the ground and completed one pass for 35 yards more in the contest, ending the game with 23 first downs and no turnovers.

The Hawk defense, meanwhile, kept a potent Huskie backfield in check all night, allowing only 175 yards on the ground, and 21 passing. Jared Sanders covered a Hirschi fumble in the only turnover of the game.

“It was just what the doctor ordered,” said Ellis of the win. “It was a good performance by our kids. We did what we needed to do. we did what we game--planned to do, which was to keep them bottled up on the defensive side and not let them break any long runs.”

The Hawks also managed to overcome penalties (two in the first possession) in mounting their first scoring drive of the contest, capped by Richard Smoak’s one-yard plunge. Matt Rodgers kicked his first of four successful PATS to give the Hawks an early 7-0 lead in the opening period.

Rodgers also connected on a 34-yard field goal in the second period to put the Hawks up 10-0.

And quarterback Jesse Harris’s 35-yard pass completion to Westyn McCalip put the Hawks in scoring position lat e in the first half, with Harris scoring on a seven-yard run to build the lead to 16-0.

Iowa Park’s defense, meanwhile, kept quarterback Darius Thornton and runningback Demetrion Cooper in check throughout the contest, with Thornton finishing with just 12 yards rushing, and Cooper 16 yards total before leaving the game in the second half with an injury.

“We did something of a split six defense formation because of Hirschi’s speed,” said Ellis. “we wanted extra linebackers out on the perimeter.

“They (Hirschi) went back to their tight formation, which I think really helped us,” he continued. “It gave us less field to cover. We are pretty big and physical and have some strong kids up front. When we don’t have to cover a lot of ground and can control gaps, and people are forced to try to run it down our throats, we do a better job and it plays more into our hands.”

In the second half, Iowa Park added 21 more points with 14 of those coming in the third period on a 56-yard run by Dustin Palmer, and a seven-yard run by Lee Clubb.

Palmer finished as the game’s leading rusher with 107 yards, while Smoak finished with 106 yards.

In the fourth period, Eric Stanley capped the scoring on a 14-yard touchdown run. Stanley, moved up from the JV squad this week after being held out most of the season with concussion problems, ended the game with 49 total yards.

As for Iowa Park’s defense, Ellis started with junior Dai Le, who started for the first game at linebacker after playing several games on the defensive line. “Dai did some good things, along with J.D. Cuatt,” said Ellis. “Justin Thacker and Caleb England had good nights (at defensive line). Richard Smoak at outside backer, John Elliott and Clint Morgan on the other side. Our secondary did a good job for the most part,” he continued. “Kris Tucker and Lee Clubb, Jesse Harris, Stafford Dyer late.”

Ellis also praised Sanders and Colton Herndon for their special teams play, with four tackles each. “They were covering the field well,” said Ellis.

“I really thought our front four folks did a good job of keeping their quarterback bottled up,” he noted. “It’s what we worked on. we did well. The kids took our coaching well and applied it to the situations. We whipped some tail up front. That was good to see.”

On offense, Ellis singled out the entire offensive line, and in particular tight ends Dillan Ross, Bryce Cross, and Chancey Rose.

“If you rush for 460 yards, you are doing something right up front,” he said.

His praise also included linemen Tyler Seale, Le, England, Thacker, and Ryan Beals.

“I think Jesse Harris ran the offense very well,” Ellis said of the senior quarterback. “No bad mistakes, he took care of the ball a lot better than the week before. He was in and out of the huddle, kept a good rhythm, and he ran the ball well a couple of times and completed an important pass.”

Fullbacks Cuatt and Herndon were praised for their blocking.

“Overall the kids did well,” he said. “Everybody got to play. Our JV kids even got in. Eric Stanley came in and did a good job. He had a good touchdown run, and showed some good speed and quickness.
“It was a pretty good football game.”