HUMBOLDT – The Humboldt Cubs defense has been a work in progress for the first 3 weeks of the season and it looks like that work is starting to pay off. The Cubs completed their first shut out of the season with a 44-0 win over Jayhawk-Linn.
The defense came in averaging giving up 20 points per game. Coach Wyrick and his coaching staff for the first 3 weeks of the season have been rotating players and personnel to find the right combination. After a come from behind win last week over Eureka, it appears they be on to something.
Senior Speed Hoepker recorded a team-high 13 tackles followed by Briar Orth with 10. Senior Joshua Hull upfront recorded 8 tackles, 3 of which were for losses including 2 sacks. Humboldt’s defense was a takeaway machine with senior Gunner Elder taking away one Jayhawk pass and seniors Isiah Coronado, Cooper Jaro and Conor Haviland all recovering a fumble. Kyle Kobold and Coronado also blacked a punt each.
While the team’s defensive performance improved, it was also the consistent offensive performance of senior Conor Haviland that proved to be the difference as well.
Haviland recorded 262 yards on the ground, including and 86 yard run and 4 touchdowns. The stat that truly stands out, however, is the 262 yards were achieved in only 8 carries for an average of 32.8 yards per carry. Haviland now has 851 yards on the season, with 15 rushing touchdowns and over 100 yards in each of the 1st 4 games.
Humboldt moves to 4-0 overall and 1-0 in district play and will make the short drive to take on Erie, who is 1-3 overall on the season and 0-1 in district play with a 50-12 loss to Riverton.
Jayhawk-Linn falls to 3-1 overall and 0-1 in the district and will travel to Southeast-Cherokee who is 4-0 overall and 1-0 in the district with their shut out win over Northeast- Arma on Friday night.