Lynnville-Sully Hawks Defeat Earlham in Senior Night Showdown

The Lynnville-Sully Hawks secured a thrilling 20-15 victory over the Earlham Cardinals in their regular-season finale, held on Senior Night. A strong start by the Hawks set the tone, with touchdowns from Gavin Fisk and Dawson James in the first quarter. James added another touchdown run in the second quarter, helping the Hawks maintain their lead.

The Class A District 6 matchup was suspended with 2:39 remaining in the first half, but both school administrations agreed to finalize the result as district standings were already established prior to the game. Lynnville-Sully finished the regular season with a record of 7-1 overall and 6-0 in district play, earning the top seed for the upcoming postseason.

Postseason Outlook for Lynnville-Sully

The Hawks are set to host Wapello, who finished the regular season with a 3-5 record, on October 24, 2023, at 19:00 local time. Wapello started strong this season with a 5-1 record but faced tough losses in their final two games, including a 45-32 defeat to Van Buren and a narrow 33-31 loss to Danville.

Earlham, now with a season record of 4-4, will enter the playoffs as the No. 4 seed from the district. They will face the undefeated and No. 8 ranked Pekin in their first-round matchup.

The game featured a solid performance from Fisk, who rushed for 70 yards and scored a touchdown on seven carries. James contributed significantly as well, adding 41 yards and two touchdowns on six carries. Quarterback Connor Deal completed 3 of 5 passes for 82 yards, with Jack Bowlin making two receptions for 68 yards, including an impressive 56 yards on two punt returns.

Game Highlights and Senior Recognition

The Hawks displayed a strong offensive strategy, scoring early and often. Fisk opened the scoring with a 36-yard touchdown run, followed by James’ one-yard touchdown late in the first quarter. The Hawks converted a crucial two-point conversion on a pass from Deal to Bowlin, which bolstered their early lead.

Earlham’s Cash Eitel provided resistance, catching two touchdown passes from quarterback Brady Reynolds. Despite this, the Cardinals struggled on the ground, managing just 35 rushing yards from 17 attempts. Lynnville-Sully’s defense, led by Dawson James with four tackles, maintained pressure throughout the game, limiting Earlham’s offensive opportunities.

Prior to the game, the Hawks recognized their eleven senior players: Bowlin, Richards, Deal, Spooner, Johnson, Dawson James, Wyatt Mathis, Landyn Fisk, Ben Squires, Boston Agan, and Evan Van Zee. Their contributions have been pivotal in the team’s success this season.

As Lynnville-Sully prepares for the postseason, they carry momentum from a successful regular season and look to advance further in the playoffs. The upcoming match against Wapello promises to be an exciting challenge for the Hawks as they aim to continue their winning streak.