The Webster City Lynx football team returns to action on Friday night, as they welcome in another longtime North Central Conference-rival in the Humboldt Wildcats in Class 3A, District 2 action at Lynx Field on senior night. Webster City enters with a record of 6-2 and 3-1 in the district, while Humboldt holds a similar 6-2 overall record and 3-1 district mark.
The Wildcats are coming off a marquee win over then-RPI #1 and Radio Iowa #2 Clear Lake last Friday night, in a 34-0 domination of the Lions in Humboldt. It was a signature win for a young Wildcats team, which has grown throughout the season. Junior quarterback Coen Matson has been the catalyst all season, throwing for 876 yards and 5 touchdowns, while rushing for another 456 yards and 4 touchdowns. Matson has thrown 5 interceptions, but is still completing nearly 60% of his passes, most of them finding the arms of receiver Corey Dettman, who’s caught 37 passes for 442 yards and 3 touchdowns. Fellow receiver Mason Van Pelt has the ability to stretch the field vertically, catching 11 balls for 200 yards and a touchdown on the season. On the ground, the Humboldt rushing attack has picked up in recent weeks with the return of senior running back Lance Coon, who missed the first half of the season with an injury. Coon has rushed for 515 yards and 8 touchdowns in his 4 games since returning, doing so by a brand-new offensive line.
Defensively, the Wildcats have been a strength-in-numbers type of defense, with 5 players cracking the 40 tackle mark so far this season. Linebacker Keegan Groat has been the playmaker in the linebacker core, with a team-high 48.5 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions and a pick 6 on the season. Joining Groat in the linebacker core is Mason Van Pelt, who’s tallied 48 tackles on the season, Gaige Allen and Grant Dieleman, each of whom have tallied 43 tackles on the season. The defensive backfield has seen playmakers step up as the year has progressed, with senior Carson Sleiter has the Wildcats ballhawk, with a team-high 4 interceptions in addition to his 19 tackles. Corey Dettmann has been a playmaker as well, with a unit-high 48 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions and a pick six. Mason Brown has been a sure-handed tackler for the Wildcats, with 39 in the secondary as well. Humboldt’s defensive line has been a steady one throughout the year, as freshman Brody Hendricks leads the unit with 28 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, a sack and a scoop and score.
Webster City is coming off a marquee victory of their own, taking down a huge challenge in a dominant manner with a 47-0 win over Algona in Week 8. The Wildcats have won the previous 2 meetings thanks to stout defensive performances, but now get Webster City at the end of the season rather than the beginning. Jaxon Cherry returned from injury last week and ran for 218 yards and 4 touchdowns, while making 9 tackles, 3 tackles for loss and 2 sacks, as the Lynx offensive line continues to improve week-after-week.
Kickoff is slated for 7 PM on Friday night from Lynx Field, and can be heard on 92.9/1570 KZWC or online at kqradio.com.