Big games in D1

[BHCrusader2010]

The Crusaders have dropped two games in a row by three points to two ranked teams. Uphill battle rest of year but don't count them out.
Big games in D1 this week. Crusaders at unbeaten Storm Lake and battle of two unbeatens surprising LeMars and SB-L.

 

[WSC72]

What do you see as the issue BH?

Not a typical start for Heelan.

 

[BHCrusader2010]

Lack of offense of offense and a bad secondary. Thought Iowa and ISU recruit Clark would have run wild but hasn't even had a one hundred yard game. Offensive line is the issue according to the 'experts'. Schedule gets lighter so don't think Crusaders are finished but yes non typical start.

 

[WSC72]

Thanks BH. I thought Clark would have a big year as well.

 

[HawksFan19]

The schedule gets lighter because they play teams that they normally have there backups in shortly after halftime? Seeing some film of Heelan and the 2 teams they have coming up, it wouldn't surprise me if they aren't 1-4 after the next 2 games. Neither SL or LeMars have played the schedule that Heelan has, but they look like they could compete this year. Just hope they don't crap the bed because of who they are playing, seen that way to many times.

 

[PrideOrDie30]

Lack of offense of offense and a bad secondary. Thought Iowa and ISU recruit Clark would have run wild but hasn't even had a one hundred yard game. Offensive line is the issue according to the 'experts'. Schedule gets lighter so don't think Crusaders are finished but yes non typical start.

In my opinion Heelans offensive play calling is too predictable. Clark is getting the ball 20 times a game and the coaches cant think of any other ways besides off tackles or sweeps to get it to him, leaving a lot of 3rd and longs where they call 30-40 yard pass plays. I think it would be nice to see them run a hurry up offense once and awhile, get the defenses on their heels and possibly open up the passing game more.

Clark had better stats in 1 game last season against SB-L than he does in the first 3 games this season.
2015 (vs. SB-L): 25 rushes, 300 yards, 3 TD's
2016 (3 games): 58 rushes, 184 yards, 1 TD
-as a team Heelan has 309 rushing yards/3 TD's this season

 

[WSC72]

A question. What is the size of Heelan's line? Young? Inexperienced?

 

[PrideOrDie30]

A question. What is the size of Heelan's line? Young? Inexperienced?

I would guess they average around 220 with a couple returners.

 

[WSC72]

That's seems quite small for a 3A squad. Maybe I just don't follow 3A close enough

 

[cruhawk]

Poor QB play and head-scratching play calling/offensive game plan are the culprits. O-line is young (as is the team in general, where the best players are in the soph/jr classes), but still quite good. They are not undersized. The play calling so far hasn't utilized their senior QB's strengths. He has an average (at best) arm, yet they continually put him in a position to throw 30-40 yds downfield to a covered receiver. This happened on several occasions in the last two games on 3rd & short when the game was on the line. The opposing defense already has 8-9 in the box to stop the run, so such slow-developing plays additionally make the QB more vulnerable to the pass rush. His strengths are his quickness & athleticism, so they should work on getting him in space as a runner so he can make plays with his feet. Any passes should be on 5-20 yd routes where all he has to do is flick the ball a short distance....basically a possession-type passing game. This will cause the defense to drop the LB's & safeties back, giving Clark & company more room to work.

Coach Steffen stated before the season started that they were making changes to the offense in an attempt to make it more "diverse". Since the offense seems to be listlessly running at 3-quarter speed, looking tentative & confused, maybe they should get back to basics and simplify some things. You'd rather have a few plays that the kids are confident running than a whole slew of options that they aren't comfortable with. But a good amount of what we've seen so far is self-inflicted.

 

[WSC72]

When was the last time Heelan started the season 1-3 or 0-2 in district?

 

[nwiowahawkeyefan]

When was the last time Heelan started the season 1-3 or 0-2 in district?

2006, I believe. Their first year down in 3A after being 4A before that.

They began the season with a 25-0 win over Atlantic before having to take on two 3A powerhouses back to back -- Harlan and LeMars.

They fell to Harlan 21-7 in their final non-conference game and then they lost to LeMars 31-7 to open district play. In their second district game, they lost to Spencer 28-13 to fall to 1-3 overall, 0-2 in the district. Heelan cruised from there over their final 5 district games to reach 6-3 overall, 5-2 in the district, but they missed out on playoffs as that was one of the last seasons where only 2 teams from each district qualified for playoffs before the change to four (LeMars and Spencer finished 1st and 2nd respectively and Heelan finished 3rd).

 

[WSC72]

Thanks. Not a Heelan guy, not a private school guy but have always enjoyed watching Heelan compete at state over the years.

Best of luck rest of year. Crystal ball on Clark?

 

[nwiowahawkeyefan]

Thanks. Not a Heelan guy, not a private school guy but have always enjoyed watching Heelan compete at state over the years.

Best of luck rest of year. Crystal ball on Clark?

You're welcome! I am not a Heelan or private guy though, either. I only knew the answer because 1) I was in high school at LeMars in 2006 when that happened and 2) I remember so many useless stats about high school sports it is insane.

 

[BHCrusader2010]

The schedule gets lighter because they play teams that they normally have there backups in shortly after halftime? Seeing some film of Heelan and the 2 teams they have coming up, it wouldn't surprise me if they aren't 1-4 after the next 2 games. Neither SL or LeMars have played the schedule that Heelan has, but they look like they could compete this year. Just hope they don't crap the bed because of who they are playing, seen that way to many times.

Hawk fan saw the future. SL drubbed the Crusaders in a game that was never close. Sounds like big problems for Crusaders including lack of effort on field and certain players allowed to cut practices and team functions. Coaching change has not been a good thing.

 

[cidhawkeye]

Hawk fan saw the future. SL drubbed the Crusaders in a game that was never close. Sounds like big problems for Crusaders including lack of effort on field and certain players allowed to cut practices and team functions. Coaching change has not been a good thing.

So you are saying coaching, work effort etc. play a big role in success?

 

[cruhawk]

Coaching change has not been a good thing.

This.

110%

 

[HawksFan19]

What a surprise last night in LeMars!! Is this the real Heelan team or is LeMars getting everyone's best shot? It happened last week with SBL, they play their best game of the season so far against LeMars, then last night they go up to Spencer and lay an egg! Heelan hasn't played a solid 4 quarter football game all season and last night against LeMars they play their best game of the year!

1. Heelan starts off the game with a 67 yard touchdown run (7-0)
2. LeMars gets pinned deep in their own territory, fumbles a snap, Heelan recovers in the endzone (15-0 with a swinging gate 2-point conversion)
3. Heelan intercepts a pass in LeMars territory returns it to around the 15, then punches it in from their (21-0)
4. Heelan gets a couple nice punt returns to set themselves up inside the LeMars 30 both times, one drive stalls and results in a missed field goal, the other results in another Clark touchdown, his 3rd of the night (28-0)
5. Heelan puts together their first decent drive of the night to start the 4th quarter and punch it in on a Tobin 1 yard plunge, running clock with just over 9 minutes left (35-0)

It was an extremely hard game to watch because if not for the excellent field position that Heelan had ALL night, they didn't move the ball much against the LeMars defense. I think they had just over 200 yards total offense with a 67 yard play included.

It was the 2nd quarter interception from Peck of Heelan and the return that all but sealed the victory for Heelan because on that play LeMars quarterback Eckstein made the tackle and injured himself and he never returned. LeMars is not 1/2 the offense with him on the sidelines. They couldn't move the ball at all, give credit to the Heelan defense because they were in the LeMars backfield all night long.

If LeMars has any hopes of a playoff run it doesn't get any easier next week as they travel to Storm Lake in a MUST win game for them.

 

[DSM SPORTS FAN]

looks like a nice bounce back win last night

 

[cruhawk]

The real story was Heelan's defense, which allowed 96 total yds on 56 total plays. They've been good all year on that side of the ball.

One thing is for sure....if they'd played like this from the start, they'd be 5-0.

 

[HawksFan19]

Another big week in this District as there are 2 big games that should start to shape the playoff picture.

LeMars (3-2,1-2) vs. #8 - Storm Lake (5-0,3-0)
Spencer (3-2,2-1) at Heelan (2-3,1-2)
Algona (0-5,0-3) at SBL (4-1,2-1)
Humbolt (2-3,1-2) at Spirit Lake (4-1,2-1)

LeMars is in a must win game, not sure of the status of their quarterback, but if he isn't 100% they have no chance of knocking off the Tornadoes. If he plays and is his 100% I could see them beating Storm Lake. With Eckstein - 40-34 LeMars, without Eckstein - 42-12.

I think Spencer will come out and punch Heelan in the mouth for 2 quarters, but I think the Heelan defense will get things figured out and beat Spencer 27-21.

The other 2 games I don't see being close, but what the heck. SBL - 56-6, SL - 30-14