Anamosa proves 2014 was not a fluke

ANAMOSA - When you go from never winning to always winning, you wonder how players will react. At least Ryan Streets did.

His Anamosa Blue Raiders were one of the feel-good stories of last prep football season, ending a hideous 26-game losing streak and making the playoffs with a 7-2 regular-season record. Talk about going from the outhouse to the penthouse, a swift reversal of fortunes or however you want to phrase it.

Anamosa suddently came into this season with everyone expecting them to win after expecting them never to win. That's different.

'Honestly, I worried about the pressure and everything,” Streets said. 'But these guys come to practice every day, and you wouldn't know how we're rated or what our record is. They just go about things. Sometimes I think that maybe they're too loose, but they just go along with their business. That's been nice.”

That business is a 6-0 record and No. 4 ranking in Class 2A heading into Friday night's showdown at sixth-ranked Mount Vernon (5-1). An Anamosa win clinches the District 6 championship.

There has been zero drop off from 2014's amazing turnaround.

'So far, it's been a great season,” said Anamosa's Daniel Husmann. 'It is special because we've all been together for a long time.”

'We know we have talent,” said Anamosa's Kolin Schulte. 'This is something we've all dreamed about since sixth grade.”

Anamosa ranks third in 2A in scoring, averaging 44.5 points despite no individual having real eye-popping statistics. That speaks to this team having a lot of offensive options.

Husmann has 480 yards rushing and four touchdowns, adding five TDs via receptions. Trevor Wehling, Jay McLean and Cole Jamison all have at least three rushing touchdowns.

Quarterback Schulte has a team-high eight rushing scores and has thrown for nine.

How's this for a stat? Anamomsa had 535 yards of offense in a 52-28 win over Monticello but not one 100-yard rusher.

'We're averaging 8.8 yards per play, and you have to have some serious talent to be able to do that,” Streets said. 'Truthfully, our offense is really built around getting four yards a play, but we've been able to excede that.”

The players say their familiarity with Streets' offense has been a key. He is in his third season at a school that has had a lot of coaching turnover over recent years.

'We have a lot of guys that can play anywhere,” Schulte said. 'But when it comes down to it, it's all about the line.”

When it comes down to it, Anamosa is motivated to improve on the way last season ended. The Blue Raiders were beaten soundly by Cascade in the regular-season finale, 34-13, and upset by New Hampton in the first round of the playoffs, 41-0.

Those games gnaw at these guys.

'A lot of motivation,” Husmann said. 'That made us work harder in the offseason.”

'Last year, it was all about making the playoffs,” Schulte said. 'Having a winning record and making the playoffs. This year, we want to make a deep run in the playoffs.”

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