LAST MEETING – W-G ran for 385 yards and five scores but, as the Hawks will face all season, those numbers belonged almost entirely to since-graduated Tanner Vermaas, meaning new faces must step up if they wish to follow 2016’s 43-13 win with another victory. Central Decatur quarterback Boothe Carter threw for 241 yards and ran for 82 and will be the key person to stop again this year.
ABOUT THE HAWKS – Quarterback Brendan Bird is 18-33-3 for 277 yards and one touchdown through the air, with J.P. Nixon (12-175, 1 TD) the primary target.
The ground game has been a three-headed attack, with Austin Scharlau (33-161, 1 TD), Josh Saak (22-145, 2 TDs) and Payton Tague (34-144, 3 TDs) doing almost all the damage.
Scharlau leads the defense with 27 tackles, with Bryce Achenbach making 23 stops and Cole Carmen 22.5. Tague has two interceptions, returning both for TDs, while Nixon also has a theft. Gabe YIngst has fallen on two fumbles and Logan Canova one.
ABOUT THE CARDINALS – Central Decatur opened the season with a 30-10 win over visiting Centerville, then went on the road to top Clarke, 47-6, and Mt. Ayr, 34-22.
Carter is the real deal as a dual-threat quarterback. The senior is 32-60-2 for 564 yards, an impressive 17.6 yards per reception. Cole Pederson (who also has an 80-yard kickoff return for a TD) has pulled in 11 passes for 171 yards and two scores. Kolten Johnson (7-134, 3 TDs), Tyke Walker (7-113) and Gunner Graham (4-65, 2 TDs) have been the chief targets.
Carter has four rushing TDs and 194 yards on 35 carries, with Tyler Davis (29-97, 1 TD) and Walker (22-74, 1 TD) also key parts of the attack.
Walker has 29 tackles (four for loss) and Davis 16.5 (six for loss) with the defense intercepting five passes and landing on seven fumbles.
OUTLOOK – The Cardinals are much improved from last year, and Carter makes them a scoring threat on every snap. W-G dominated the line of scrimmage last season and must try to do so again, with long possessions chewing up clock and keeping the ball away from the Cardinal offense. Sometime tight end Logan Canova could play a key role if the defense clamps down on Nixon.
DISTRICT 5
| District | Overall | Point Diff Avg |
|||||
| Win | Loss | Tie | Win | Loss | Tie | ||
| Pella Christian | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 17.00 |
| Pleasantville | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 17.00 |
| Woodward-Granger | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 17.00 |
| Central Decatur | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12.00 |
| Mount Ayr | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | -12.00 |
| Des Moines Christian | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | -17.00 |
| Interstate 35 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | -17.00 |
| Woodward Academy | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | -17.00 |
Tonight’s Games
Woodward-Granger at Central Decatur
Mount Ayr at Woodward Academy
#2 Pella Christian at Interstate 35
#5 Pleasantville at Des Moines Christian
September 22 Games
Interstate 35 at Woodward-Granger (HC)
Des Moines Christian at Central Decatur
Mount Ayr at #2 Pella Christian
Woodward Academy at #5 Pleasantville
