Schools
Waukee pulls out 28-21 victory over Sioux City East
Waukee evens its record at 1-1 at the expense of the Black Raiders in a home victory.
Ask players on the Waukee High School varsity football team what spectators should expect out of tonight’s home opener against Sioux City East and you’re bound to get an earful.
"It's going to be exciting," said senior wide receiver Beau Easley. "The stands will be packed. Everyone's going to be there. We have a surprise for the people and we'll be jacked up and ready to go. I can't wait."
The Warriors are coming off a 31-20 season-opening loss to Ankeny last Friday night. With Sioux City East defeated by class 3A’s top-ranked Sioux City Heelan last weekend, one of the two will be getting their first win tonight.
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“I think people will be treated to an awfully good football game if we play well,” said head coach Scott Carlson. “They (Sioux City East) were ranked at the beginning of the year in 4A, and there are some awfully good football players on that team. We’re going to have to play some great football to be able to be successful against them.”
Most high school football teams are more focused on running the ball than passing it but this year’s team will have a more exciting brand of football than those in recent history. Carlson says the team will be airing it out more than most.
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“Coach Hayden Fry used to say ‘scratch where it itches,’ and I think what he was trying to say was whatever you have that year play to your strengths,” Carlson said. “This year we’ll be close to a 50-50 pass/run scheme. We have some very capable receivers and a quarterback who’s very dangerous and can really throw the ball, so that will really play to our advantage.”
After a somewhat disappointing 2010 campaign that saw the Warriors pull off an impressive first round upset in the post-season over Fort Dodge, but a not-so-impressive 4-7 final record, this team feels like they have a lot to prove.
“We got it handed to us pretty good last year,” Easley said. “This year we just want to have a better record, go out and play our hardest and make everyone in Waukee proud.”
Tonight’s varsity game will begin at 7:30 p.m. at Waukee Stadium. The Warrior's play again next Friday at Southeast Polk.