The Little Hawks fell to 0-2 on the season after losing their home opener to the Bettendorf Bulldogs (44-7). Bettendorf was ranked #3 in class 4A, and City High was coming off of a loss to currently second ranked Cedar Falls.

“Well, you know, we knew our schedule was going to be tough, and it was indeed that,” head coach Dan Sabers commented.

City High received the opening kickoff, and on a 4th down on their own 20, attempted a fake punt, which was unsuccessful. Bettendorf would score a field goal off of the good field position.

“I take full responsibility for that. I thought we had something, it wasn’t quite there, they made a good play,” Coach Sabers said after the game in regards to the fake punt.

Bettendorf expanded their lead to 10-0 with about five minutes left in the first quarter, but City came back with a 61 yard catch and run by Jason Jones ‘16. Jones would then haul in the touchdown pass from backup QB, Jared Taylor ‘17. Bettendorf would get their lead back up to 10 with a 71 yard touchdown run. It would remain 17-7 until the third quarter, when Jack Wells for Bettendorf jumped the route, picking it off, and taking it back 97 yards the other way. After a fumble on a handoff on the ensuing City High possession, Bettendorf’s Dax Emerson would take it for another touchdown to make it 31-7.Bettendorf would tack on two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter to win the game, by a score of 44-7.

One thing the Little Hawks struggled with was turnovers. They had six fumbles-they only ended up losing one, but also had the failed fake punt, multiple interceptions, and a blocked punt.

“We gotta take care of the football. Coach has got to stop calling fake punts, things like that. That’s number one,” Sabers said of the issue.

“I think we got better than we were last week, I know the score, but I don’t give a rip about the score right now. I just think that we did a lot of things, defensively, I thought we played with more intensity,” Sabers said. “We did some things well offensively at times. So you know, there are some things there. James Martinez-Burney I thought ran well. So, there are some positives there.”

The Little Hawks play at the Ames Little Cyclones next week, to coincide with the Iowa-Iowa State game next Saturday.

“We’ll be a better football team next week then we were this week, I really believe that, and if we do that, we’re on good course,” Sabers said.

Gallery • 6 Photos

Max Gruber

City High's Sarrive Rukakiza '16 kicks off.