HIGH SCHOOL JOURNALISM: Little Hawks ready to battle Tigers

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By Dominic Balestrieri-Fox, City High sophomoreThe pressure is on for the City High football team.As the first game of the season rapidly approaches, the Little Hawks will face the occasion with the confidence of a home field advantage. The Little Hawks' last season began with a disheartening, 28-14, loss in the UNI-Dome. Now they once again face the 11th-ranked Class 4A team in the state, Cedar Falls, but this time on home turf."Obviously we need to play well, but hopefully we'll get some revenge for last year as well,” said senior Jake Keil,  an offensive-tackle. “That was not City High football.”Keil and his teammates know they are going to play a very good team.“It will be a tough game,” Keil said, “their offensive line is especially strong.”Ross Pierschbacher, a Cedar Falls offensive tackle, recently committed to Alabama, the premier college football team in the nation. He will provide a difficult job for City's defensive ends, seniors Matt Kroeze and Jake Leohr.City High experienced many turnovers during last year's game, a factor head coach Dan Sabers believes will be crucial to fix for this year's games as well.“We've got to take care of the football," he said. "There were too many turnovers last year."Returning varsity players who will play key roles for the team are seniors Xavier Washpun, Mitch Wieland, Lehor, Joel Reynolds and Luke Posivio. Other players to watch are seniors Ivan Diaz, Drew Cornwell  and Joe Pugh.The team also is  adding new aspects to the offense.“Last year the kids hung in there and battled tough,” Sabers said, “but I believe in this team's abilities (to win).”The weather for tonight also may affect the game. According to the National Weather Service, there is a high temperature of 97 degrees, and a heat-index of 105 degrees.Effort has not been a concern for Coach Sabers.“This is a dedicated group, I'm not worried as far as playing hard goes,” he said.

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