Cedar Valley Christian falls again, but coach sees improvement

CEDAR RAPIDS - Following another resounding defeat, Cedar Valley Christian football coach Ed Betsworth insists progress is being made and team morale is high.“They're a close-knit group, they're just like brothers,” Betsworth said after West Central scored 40 first-quarter points and blasted his Huskies, 67-12, in an eight-man District 4 contest last night at LaSalle Middle School. “They pull for each other, they help each other out, the attitude is great.“They know they're coming in under the gun and they know our expectation is just get better.”After consecutive losses to top-10 teams by a combined score of 161-6, the Huskies saw improvement in their passing game as junior quarterback Kenan Ulmer threw for 108 yards, including a 49-yarder to tight end Caleb Severson, who was tackled at the 1-yard line on the last play of the first half. Ulmer accounted for two fourth quarter touchdowns to avoid the shutout.Severson, a senior who has been in the program since its inception two years ago, agrees there is marked improvement despite the lopsided defeats.“Definitely more organization out in the field, we know what we're doing more, we've got some experience now,” Severson said. “We really encourage each other out there, that's what keeps us going.”Betsworth maintains motivation is not an issue for his squad, which has lost all 16 varsity games it has played with no margin closer than 38 points.“I don't really have to motivate these kids; they're good kids, they're smart kids,” Betsworth said. “They're very coachable and when you've got a group like that, you don't have to work hard to motivate them.”West Central's James Niemann and Jordan Taylor each rushed for two first-quarter TDs.