Defense shines again as Exira-EHK works its way into state title game

Top-ranked Spartans hammer Newell-Fonda 56-7; will face Don Bosco next

By Drew Herron- NT Sports Editor / Nov. 14, 2013

CEDAR FALLS – Any concerns that the Spartans might fall flat once they hit the UNI-Dome turf (like they did last November) was quickly put to bed Thursday afternoon.
Top-ranked Exira-EHK put on another defensive clinic while the offense racked up enough points to enact the continuously running that left no doubt who the better team was in the second game of Thursday’s 8-Man state semifinals.
Exira-EHK rolled up a 56-7 victory over Newell-Fonda, and with it clinched a return trip to Cedar Falls next Thursday (Nov. 21) to play in the state championship game.

“They always ask…does experience help? Absolutely it does,” Exira-EHK head coach Tom Petersen said afterwards. “When you have the opportunity to come up here and play before, it makes a world of difference. To see our kids jump out...obviously you want to see that. We were fortunate enough to do it, and I thought we played well in a number of areas.”

Spartans’ junior quarterback Drew Peppers scored five rushing touchdowns and threw for another in helping lead Exira-EHK to victory.  Peppers scored on runs from 7, 16, 60, 10, and 1 yard, while also connecting with his brother Nick for a 43-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter.

Drew Peppers carried the ball 20 times for 185 yards, and he went 7-of-10 passing for 94 yards.

Exira-EHK struck first, a little less than three minutes into the game, after recovering a NF fumble deep in Mustangs’ territory. Moments later, Drew Peppers brook loose for a seven-yard TD run, and the Spartans were out in front for good.

Newell-Fonda, who boasted the state’s third-best offense coming into the semifinal, was overwhelmed by the Spartans’ defense, who held the Mustangs to just 93 yards of total offense in the first half. Exira-EHK’s line dominated up front, and the secondary effectively blanketed the backfield with stiff coverage.

 “Our goal is to get a shutout every time out, and we made one mistake that cost us,” coach Petersen says. “I realize they average 55 points-per-game, but that’s where we set our standards. I thought we had a game plan coming in, and I am very happy with the way we did things on the defensive side. The guys up front, Martin Olson and Austin (Moeller) played a great game to open things up for our linebackers, and Brett (Johnson) and Nick (Peppers) were all over the place.”

The Spartans moved the sticks 15 times to NF’s four, as ball control became an asset as well.

On defense, Nick Peppers led the way with 12 tackles, and Olson added 10. Johnson collected six tackles, one sack, two for loss, and an interception returned for a touchdown.

With the victory, Exira-EHK improves its record to 12-0, and the Spartans will now set their sights on next week’s State Championship game against Don Bosco of Gilbertville. The No. 2-ranked Dons are in the title game for the second straight year after soundly defeating Adair-Casey 78-21 in the first game Thursday morning at the UNI-Dome.
“We will celebrate this one for tonight, and then tomorrow we will start preparing for Don Bosco,” coach Petersen says. “They are a very good team with the best quarterback in the state, and it’s going to be a handful.”

That said, coach Petersen stresses that his team will try to enjoy the journey and not completely fixate on the final destination.

“Enjoy the moment, you don’t get this opportunity very often,” he says. “It’s a special group of kids, and we wanted them to come out here and have fun. Win or lose, that’s what we were hoping for.”

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