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The
Official Newspaper of Anamosa, located in Jones County, Iowa
Anamosa News
Since 1855
 Thursday, November 1, 2007
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Frustrating football finish
By
Daryl Schepanski - Sports Editor |
WEST LIBERTY — Looking to close their 2007 season on a positive note traveling to West Liberty Friday, October 26, a strong start for the Anamosa football team against the Comets ended in frustration after a 47-26 defeat.
“I guess that’s the word you could use about the way we felt after that game,” said Raider football coach Matt Malausky as his club led the hosts 14-7 after one quarter of play, but were outscored 40-19 the rest of the way in the bitter loss. “We had some heads hanging there at the end because we felt we didn’t give West Liberty our best game, and that’s a frustrating way to end your season.”
The loss closed out the fall for the Raiders with a 1-8 record overall and 1-6 in class 3A district 5.
“I especially feel for the seniors,” said Malausky. “They deserved better than this kind of finish to their careers, especially in a game we should have been in to the end.”
Anamosa was in the game at the start taking their opening drive for a touchdown for the first time this season, ending when Tucker Vondracek ran 35 yards into the Comet end zone.
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Focused in
Anamosa junior Jason Breon returns a West Liberty kick during the Raiders’ tough 47-26 season-ending setback Friday, October 26. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski) |
“I couldn’t have asked for a better start,” said Malausky. “We mixed in some running plays into the offense this week and Tony and Tucker made some nice reads picking the right times to make the plays.”
West Liberty answered tying the score at 7-7, but the Raiders took another lead as Colten Kelly grabbed a Tony Lueken pass covering 28 yards giving the visitors a 14-7 advantage.
“We had momentum on our side and everything seemed to be clicking,” sad Malausky. “Maybe this was going to finally be the game when the offense and the defense played well on the same night. It just didn’t happen.”
West Liberty went on a huge run scoring the half’s final two touchdowns, to take a 19-14 lead at the break, then followed that up with another score in the third quarter as well as opening the fourth with yet another to take a commanding 33-14 lead.
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Finding room to run
Raider senior Tucker Vondracek finds a seam in the Comet defense picking up some of his season-high 82 rushing yards Friday, October 26, in West Liberty. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski) |
“I felt we still had some fight in us there at the end,” said Malausky. “The kids weren’t giving up just yet.”
Kelly hauled in another Lueken scoring toss of 11 yards trimming the Comet lead to 33-20 after a failed two-point try.
“Things really seemed to slip away after they picked off that pass in the fourth quarter and scored,” said Malausky. “That’s when it started to sink in for the guys.”
Leading 40-20, West Liberty’s Dakota Fix intercepted a Lueken pass and raced 50 yards into the end zone giving the Comets a 47-20 lead.
The Raider offense continued to fight, marching down the field and scored as Vondracek grabbed a 28-yard touchdown pass from Lueken.
“The difference in this game was we just couldn’t stop their running game,” said Malausky. “Cody Hudson had a huge game for them and proved to be too much for us to slow down.”
Anamosa still tallied impressive numbers offensively gaining 435 total yards, including a season-best 131 on the ground while yielding 445 to the Comets, including 332 rushing yards.
The Raiders’ 24 first downs in the contest were also a season-best while Lueken passed for 314 yards completing 24-of-42 passes.
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A-Town Showdown packs plenty of punch
By
Daryl Schepanski - Sports Editor |
ANAMOSA — It was standing-room only inside the Anamosa High School gym and for fans who showed up late for the second-annual A-Town Showdown Saturday, October 27, seats weren’t to be found as hundreds of enthusiasts were entertained by many area dance and cheer teams.
The evening saw mainly Anamosa teams strutting their stuff as out of the 26 performances, 17 were Anamosa members putting on a dazzling display.
Also included on the dance card were teams from Monticello, Western Dubuque, Mount Mercy and Cedar Rapids.
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Striking a pink pose
Members of the Anamosa varsity dance team perform their state routine for the huge crowd at the A-Town Showdown held at the high school Saturday, October 27. (Journal-Eureka photos by Daryl Schepanski) |
Anamosa coaches Amanda Gile and Christina Ditch coordinated the event that featured more than 100 dancers.
Packing the power
Anamosa JV dance teamers (l-r) Tessa Reynolds, Emily Thomas and Breanne Kula close out their hip-hop routine. |
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A stroll through the gym
Anamosa sophomore Macki Ditch walks through a tunnel of flowers during the Raider varsity color guard state routine in front of a standing-room only A-Town Showdown crowd inside the AHS gym Saturday, October 27.
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A-town air show
West Middle School seventh-grader Josh Schulte jumps over fellow Anamosa male dance team members seventh-grader Dylon Kula and fourth-grader Logan Rubner during their performance at the A-Town Showdown. |
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Box 108, 208 W. Main Street, Anamosa, IA 52205
319-462-3511,
FAX 319-462-4540
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Anamosa Journal-Eureka / Town Crier 2005
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