Emotional win for Little Hawks

IOWA CITY - During City High's pep assembly on Friday afternoon, principal John Bacon started a chant around the gym, 'We want the boot.”

That wish is now a reality. City High defeated West High on a rainy Friday night at Bates Field, 14-12.

The game started on schedule, but was delayed by lightning two minutes into the first quarter. During the break, fans from both sides congregated in the City High gymnasium. During that time, dance battles ensued, as well as performances by the City High dance team and the West cheerleaders.

The game was supposed to resume around 8:55, but another lightning delay pushed it back to 9:25.

When the game resumed, City High recovered a West High fumble, and senior Nate Wieland found junior Jason Jones in the corner of the end zone on fourth down.

Both teams had trouble finding their groove offensively.

They traded punts for much of the first half, but City High had a chance to add another touchdown before the half. Wieland found junior Will Noack for a long gain to put City High in good position to score. Following a few more plays, City had the ball down to the 1-yard-line. West, however, came up with a goal-line stop to keep it at 7-0. City High had another chance to add on to its lead at the end of the half, but senior Dylan Leigh bobbled the snap, tossed the ball up and West intercepted.

West responded with a touchdown in the second half, as its offense came to life. The two point conversion was no good, so City High still led, 7-6.

City High responded with a touchdown by junior Rajay Rodney. He was initially stopped at the 5, but the offensive line kept the play alive by pushing him across the goal line. At that point, assistant coach Joe Wilcox addressed his offensive line, congratulating them on finishing a drive.

West High found an answer, however, with a big touchdown with under three minutes to play in the fourth quarter. It appeared the runner may have been out at the 1, but the referees didn't spend any time discussing it. On the two-point conversion, City High Coach Dan Sabers tried to call for a timeout, but he wasn't heard by the referees. The chaotic series of events concluded with the ball being thrown out of the back of the end zone.

West High was able to recover the onside kick, but a City High interception on fourth-and-long sealed the win.

'Well, I think (the weather) slowed each offense down, there's no question about that, ball security became huge, and overall, both teams did an excellent job considering the conditions,” Sabers said. 'To be involved in a game like this and lose it would be very tough emotionally.”

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