Hat trick for Atwater-to-Henry in Linn-Mar romp (w/ video highlights)

CEDAR RAPIDS -- Under Bob Forsyth, the Linn-Mar Lions have learned to win.

Cedar Rapids Jefferson is still waiting.

Mark Atwater hooked up with Andy Henry for three touchdown receptions and Zach Martins converted a fumble recovery into a back-breaking touchdown as the Class 4A eighth-ranked Lions downed Jefferson, 35-10, in a Mississippi Valley Conference football game Thursday night at Kingston Stadium.

"We think a lot of Andy Henry," Forsyth said. "He's big and he's strong."

And don't forget fast.

"I like the deep (passes)," Henry said. "I run a 4.4(-second) 40 (yards), so that really helps out."

Henry caught four passes for 83 yards. Three of them went for scores.

He opened the scoring with a 23-yard reception on the Lions' first drive, then capped it with a 42-yarder on the fly and an 18-yarder with a fade.

"It was just a play between Mark and me," Henry said.

The last score came on the heels of a 13-yard would-be scoring slant that was nullified by a penalty.

Linn-Mar (1-0) jumped to a 21-0 lead, allowed the J-Hawks (0-1) to creep within 21-10, then pulled away behind the Atwater-to-Henry combo.

Martins' game-breaker came with the Lions holding a 14-0 lead. Jefferson quarterback Alex Baxter couldn't corral the center snap, Martins came up with the ball and went the distance.

"(Baxter) was trying to jump on it, the ball popped out and I was able to scoop and score," Martins said.

A pivotal play, to be sure.

"It was huge," said Jefferson Coach Jim Womochil. "I felt like we could move the football tonight, and at times we did.

"We just don't know how (to win) yet."

Jefferson dropped its 14th straight game dating back to the 2009 season. Statistically, the J-Hawks competed. They outgained the Lions through the first three quarters; Linn-Mar finished with a 371-294 advantage in yards.

The difference: Three turnovers for the J-Hawks, one for Linn-Mar.

"You get three takeaways, one for a score, and you shouldn't lose," Forsyth said.

Atwater completed 12 of 20 passes for 169 yards; Baxter was 11 for 15 for 128 yards.

Linn-Mar christens its new stadium next Friday with a game against Cedar Rapids Kennedy. Jefferson is at Kingston again, against Cedar Rapids Washington.

TEAM STATISTICS

Linn-Mar

CR Jeff.

First downs

20

13

Rushes-yards

33 - 202

32 - 131

Passing yards

169

163

Comp-Att-Int

12 - 20 - 1

13 - 19 - 1

Total yards

371

294

Fumbles-lost

0 - 0

2 - 2

Punts-average

2 - 34.0

3 - 35.7

Penalties-yards

6 - 51

3 - 30

Rushing:

 Linn-Mar –

Mitch Wantock 10-71 ,

Mark Atwater 11-67 ,

Nick Trabucco 4-31 ,

Austin Burbridge 2-12 ,

Tommy Feller 1-8 ,

Zach Martins 1-6 ,

Travis Kvach 1-6 ,

Brandon Ophoff 1-1 ,

John Darden 1-0 .

 CR Jeff. –

Austin Short 16-92 ,

Alex Baxter 12-26 ,

Tanner Lund 3-13 ,

Jordan Dee 1-1 .

Passing:

 Linn-Mar –

Atwater 12-20-1-169 .

 CR Jeff. –

Baxter 11-15-0-128 ,

Dee 2-4-1-35 .

Receiving:

 Linn-Mar –

Martins 1-13 ,

Andy Henry 4-83 ,

Jacob Hutchins 3-56 ,

Kvach 3-12 ,

Jake Luerkens 1-5 .

 CR Jeff. –

Lund 3-33 ,

John Conner 3-25 ,

Hunter Kloubec 3-17 ,

Austin Goodell 2-54 ,

Timauntay Jones 1-29 ,

Short 1-5 .

Linn-Mar

7

14

7

7

–

35

CR Jeff.

3

7

–

10

LM -- Andy Henry 23 pass from Mark Atwater (Quinn Treiber kick)

LM -- Atwater 11 run (Treiber kick)

LM -- Zach Martins 47 fumble return (Treiber kick)

CRJ -- Andrew Patience FG 30

CRJ -- Austin Goodell 25 pass from Alex Baxter (Patience kick)

LM -- Henry 42 pass from Atwater (Treiber kick)

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LM -- Henry 18 pass from Atwater (Treiber kick)