Linn-Mar rolls up homecoming yards

MARION — Linn-Mar made sure homecoming was a night to remember.

Quarterback Ryan Schmidt passed for 208 yards and ran for 63, and the tailback tandem of Ross Lembeck and Perrion Scott each scored two touchdowns as the Lions (2-4, 2-2 MVC) crushed Dubuque Wahlert, 42-17, last night at Linn-Mar Stadium.

'Our kids came out motivated, really focused this week,' Linn-Mar Coach Bob Forsyth said. 'When you haven't won a lot of games, homecoming is big. We're just going to keep working hard and see how we can finish.'

Schmidt connected with deep-threat receiver Griffin Brennecke for a 30-yard score midway through the second quarter for a 14-0 advantage. Brennecke averages 33 yards on 18 catches with seven touchdowns.

'Everyone just came out and gave great effort; the line blocked really well,' Schmidt said. 'We just wanted to put them down so they had no chance coming back in the game.'

Up 14-3 late in the half, the Lions mounted a 10-play, 80-yard drive capped by a 7-yard TD run by Scott on fourth-and-3 for a 21-3 halftime lead.

Linn-Mar opened the second half with drives of 71 and 90 yards, each resulting in touchdowns to put the game away at 35-3 late in the third quarter.

'We really emphasized coming out in the second half just playing as hard as we can and doing exactly what we did and it worked out for us,' said Lembeck, who ran for 99 yards and caught four passes for 62 yards.

Both teams entered having lost two in a row, with Wahlert being dealt consecutive shutouts by Metro squads Xavier and Prairie.  Friday was another offensive struggle for the Golden Eagles (2-4, 0-3 MVC), which managed just 41 first-half yards.

Linn-Mar senior defensive lineman Andrew Holladay tallied two first-half sacks.  Lions tailback Logan Benter added an 80-yard touchdown scamper in the fourth quarter.

The Lions visit Cedar Rapids Prairie next Friday, while Wahlert hosts Cedar Falls.