WACO tames Lions for trip to Class A semifinals

LISBON - It was a little deja vu for the Lisbon Lions and WACO Warriors.The two Class A teams faced off in an important prep football contest. The first meeting was for the District 5 title in a battle of unbeatens while Friday night's game was a rematch for a berth to the state semifinals. Unfortunately for Lisbon, the result resembled the previous showdown.Fourth-ranked WACO scored three touchdowns in the second quarter to grab control of the game and defeat No. 9 Lisbon, 34-8, in a Class A state playoff quarterfinal at Lisbon High School. The Warriors advance to the state semifinals Friday, Nov. 12 at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.The Warriors won 38-8 the first meeting.“Very similar,” WACO Coach Edeker said. “The only thing we did this time we didn't do last time was we didn't give up a touchdown before half.”WACO (12-0) overpowered and overwhelmed the Lions at times in the game. The Warriors were big, physical, athletic and experience. Those components helped them set a school record with 12 wins.“They're just a good football team,” Lisbon Coach Kent Allison said. “They were goling to be hard to beat any time we play them. They're very physical, well-coached (and) senior-laden.” The Warriors used a big second quarter to take control the game. WACO broke a 0-0 tie with a 66-yard, 6-play drive. Spencer Shephard took the handoff on 4th-and-1 from the Lisbon 40 and bolted for the end zone. Spencer took the handoff, turned the corner off the right tackle and out-ran a Lisbon defender to the end zone. Shephard added a two-point conversion run for an 8-0 lead with 8:54 to go in the half.“Once I turned the corner and broke the one tackle and saw I was home-free," Shephard said. "It was a matter of getting on my horse and to the pylon before the other guy.”Thne next two scores were aided by Lisbon turnovers. The Warriors recovered a Lisbon fumble at midfield. Five plays later Jordan Vradenburg scored on a 20-yard TD run, dashing through the center of the Lisbon defense, putting the Warriors up 14-0 after the PAT was blocked.“It doesn't really matter to our offense if it's 4

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-and-10, 2

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-and-13,” Shephard said. “We feel we can bust any play in any position on the field. We have the athletes (and) the speed on our team .”After an interception gave WACO good field position again, Shephard added his second TD on a 4-yard run with 30 seconds before halftime. Shephard bulled in behind his big offensive line for the score, putting the Warriors up 20-0 at the break.“They make big holes,” Shephard said. “They pride themselves on being one of the top lines.”The line helped WACO rush for 366 yards, including 184 from Shepherd, who ice the game with a 45-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, giving WACO a 34-0 lead.“He's the most explosive guy we've got,” Edeker said. “We run the Power to him, that's our bread and butter.“He's been a leader of this class since eighth grade. If we need to, he can put them on his back and go.”It's that senior class that has powered this Warriors team. Shephard said reaching the state semifinals and setting the school's win record is a special accomplishment. Edeker echoed his sentiments.“It's incredible,” Edeker said. “Our 11 seniors have really done a great job of being leaders and getting this team where its at.”Now they stand two wins away from their ultimate goal. They've lived by the motto one step at a time, but they are ready to leap to the top, which is in sight.“Those next two steps have been in our mind all year,” Shephard said. “We said we were taking it step by step but we knew all year if we play how well we can play we can get there and get those next two steps and that ring and that trophy.”Lisbon did answer late. Dacoda Ward punched in for a 1-yard TD run and Austin Kleinmeyer added a two-point conversion. Kleinmeyer led the Lions with 130 rushing yards. Ward had 45.The season's success isn't tarnished by the final outcome. The Lions posted an impressive 9-3 mark, finishing second in the district and winning two state playoff games in the same year for the first time in school history.“My kids aren't going to hold their heads down,” Allison said. “We had a really good record and a really good season and I'm extremely proud of them.”Only five players on the Lions roster are seniors and Allison said he hopes this team builds off the performance this season. Their effort after the season will be as crucial as it was during the year.“Our offseason is going to be really, really important to see where we go with this,” Allison said. “Whether we step up or accept what is. It would be a nice offseason to see how we respond. It might be the most important offseason I've had.”The Warriors will face the winner between second-ranked Mason City Newman and third-ranked North Tama for a trip to the championship.