(Audubon) Audubon checks in at #4 this week in Radio Iowa’s 8-Player poll. The Wheelers beat SE Warren 48-21 last Friday night and now prepare for Boyer Valley in Week 2.
Audubon coach Sean Birks points out the Bulldogs lost a lot to graduation from last year’s 2-6 team, but they did open the season with an impressive 68-14 win over River Valley. “They graduated quite a bit especially at their quarterback position and they have a new head coach. A little bit different scheme. They are a little bit more power. They look like they have some physicality and want to punch you in the mouth.” Birks says, “It’ll be a good test on both sides of the ball.”
Not everything went was well as planned in Audubon’s Week 1 victory, but they persevered and got a comfortable win. “I liked the way we responded. Late in the 2nd quarter we took our foot off the gas, had a couple of bad possessions in a row, and let them score. We didn’t let it snowball. We were able to get to half with allowing just one touchdown. We talked at half and didn’t make any major changes. The kids were level headed and made the adjustments necessary.” They posted a sharp start to the 2nd half with the offense producing a trio of quick scoring drives while the defense forced consecutive three and outs.
Birks says the biggest thing to take away from Week 1 is that they were able to come away healthy and come away with a win, but of course there’s plenty of things to work on. “It’s a lot of the things we told them about in August. That’s what is frustrating. You tell them, you tell them, you tell them, but until they do it themselves and see it on film it doesn’t sink in.”
Last week Gavin Smith completed 5/7 passes for 109 yards and two scores. His main target was Matthew Beisswenger with five catches for 109 yards and two TD’s. Smith ran 17 times for 180 yards and made five trips to the end zone.
Audubon coach Sean Birks:
