Football is a game that they say is won in the trenches. That’s something that City High head coach Dan Sabers emphasized after City’s loss to the Bettendorf Bulldogs.

“I’ve been around football for a long time, and it’s still won in the trenches and that’s the big factor,” Sabers said of his team’s defeat.

Following a closely contested game in the first quarter, as well as through most of the second, Bettendorf scored two touchdowns right before the half to take a 24-0 lead into the locker room. City’s normally strong rushing attack struggled, putting up only 80 yards and 175 total yards. The Bulldogs had a staggering 517 total yards.

City High didn’t get on the board until late in the second half when both teams had put in most of their backups. Backup running back Narada Poole ’17 took it in from a yard out for his first touchdown of the season to avoid the shutout.

“I think the best thing that happened to us is that all of us realized again that this is a great game,” Sabers said. “You gotta bring everything you got and you gotta prepare as hard as you can or this  can happen and I think overall our kids will respond to that.”

The now 6-2 Little Hawks wrap up regular season play next week at 1-7 Davenport North.