Huskies face finale with hopes of a victory

CEDAR RAPIDS -- No wins yet. But folks at Cedar Valley Christian aren't classifying the school's first football season as a disappointment.

Not even close.

"In my mind, we've exceeded expectations," said Stephanie Hodge, the school's athletics director. "Before the season, we were hoping and praying that we would be able to catch the ball, get some first downs, maybe score a touchdown."

The Huskies (0-3) conclude their abbreviated varsity season Friday at Central City (0-5).

"We feel that this is our chance," said Coach Ed Betsworth.

A school with about 80 students in its high school, Cedar Valley Christian announced in March that it intended to become sanctioned by the Iowa High School Athletic Association and the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union.

Not long afterward, it announced that it would start an eight-man football program from scratch.

Fifteen boys are in the program, only one of which entered the season with any experience playing tackle football.

The first day of camp, Betsworth was teaching the players the technical aspects of the three-point stance.

"We were naive and babes (when we played West Central in our opener Aug. 19)," Betsworth said.

The first game at Maynard was against an established program. The Huskies lost, 62-8. Nick Henderson scored the Huskies' first touchdown that night, on a 43-yard reception. Cedar Valley fans cheered like it was a game-winning TD. Some of the West Central fans did, too.

Defeats against Dunkerton and Midland followed, by scores of 66-28 and 66-20.

"We were told that starting a program would be difficult," Hodge said. "We were told not to expect to win, and maybe not even score, in our first year.

"But we have scored. Morale has been encouraging and enthusiastic."

Friday, the Huskies have an opportunity to compete against a young Central City squad. Victory is not out of the question.

"I think we'll give them a game," Betsworth said.

Cedar Valley already has played one contest against junior varsity competition -- a loss to Springville -- and will play three more JVs in October. The Huskies will face Cedar Falls NU High on Oct. 3, Preston on Oct. 15, Central City on Oct. 18.

The game against Preston will be at "home" -- at 11 a.m. on a Saturday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church.

Speaking of home, Betsworth is looking for a permanent place for the Huskies to practice and play next season, when Cedar Valley will join an eight-man district and play a full schedule.

"We've been approaching some folks about using their field," he said. "Everything is still kind of up for grabs."

Betsworth also is looking into developing a middle-school program, so future varsity Huskies don't enter with a blank slate like the current team did. 

When the Huskies assembled with their fans after the West Central game, Betsworth unveiled a blue lunchpail -- a token of appreciation from the coaching staff that has traveled from player to player throughout the season.

The lunchpail is empty now. It will be filled with a small piece of turf from the field in which the Huskies earn their first victory.

Betsworth said he will pack "a spade or a garden tool" for the trip to Central City. Just in case.