Old-school football works for No. 1 North Fayette Valley

CEDAR RAPIDS — Last week's Oklahoma-Texas Tech shootout did not trip his trigger. Big 12 Conference football, in general, is not his bag.

To heck with five wides, hurry ups and no huddles.

'I'm kind of bored with those games,' Ethan Lape said.

The North Fayette Valley senior lineman likes it smashmouth, old school. No, loves it smashmouth and old school.

Give him a 20-yard drive with a plethora of 3-yard runs. A 17-14 game is a lot more fun to watch than 66-59.

'You work for every yard, every point you get,' Lape said. 'It's all about the guys in the trenches.'

That's North Fayette Valley football, baby. It hasn't changed in the last two or three decades, and it won't.

'We can pass,' said NFV Coach Bob Lape, Ethan's dad.

But why do so when you don't have to?

The Tigerhawks (9-0) are top ranked and the only undefeated team in Class 2A heading into the playoffs. They host New Hampton (8-1) in a first-round game Friday night at West Union.

They've thrown the football a whopping 62 times this season, the second-fewest in the class. Texas Tech's Pat Mahomes II threw it 77 times alone in his team's game last Saturday against Oklahoma.

'I believe, we believe that you win games at the line of scrimmage,' Coach Lape said. 'When you get teams that spread it out ... that's scary to us. But when teams play us, it's like 'What are they doing with double tights?' You can look at it both ways.'

Lape is in his ninth season as head coach at North Fayette Valley. He has been at the school for 27 years, taking over for Ron Wymer when he retired.

A few things have changed defensively, but the offense is pretty much what it always has been.

'Belly, sweep, trap, play-action pass,' Lape said.

Lape is a Latrobe, Pa., native who played football at Upper Iowa. The way he wants his teams to play football fits that rural, blue-collar upbringing.

'The kids are receptive to it,' he said. 'It helps when you win. Going 5-4 or 4-5 each season, they might feel a little different.'

North Fayette Valley has qualified for the playoffs eight times in nine years, including a state title in 2014. The Tigerhawks lost in last season's 2A semifinals but have rolled through this regular season.

They beat 3A teams Decorah and Waverly-Shell Rock to begin things and worked through one of the more balanced 2A districts in the state.

'We really just have a special relationship off the field,' Ethan Lape said. 'We do everything together, on weekends. This team has one common goal.'

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Six different players have accumulated over 100 yards rushing this season, though none have 1,000. Tanner Kuhens leads the way with 902.

This has been a true 'team.'

'Our schedule was not easy to start out with,' Coach Lape said. 'Each week, I think we've gotten better and better. It's hard to go 9-0 when you are not in control of your schedule.'

l Comments: (319) 398-8259; jeff.johnson@thegazette.com