(Underwood) Two ranked football teams will clash Friday night in a non-district match-up.
Third-ranked Clarinda in Class 2A travels to sixth-ranked Underwood in Class 1A.
Underwood has knocked off two formidable non-district opponents, with another one coming Friday night against Clarinda. The Eagles are coming off wins over Harlan, 39-34, and Interstate 35, 14-0.
Underwood Head Coach Nate Mechaelsen says the first two games of the season were a tale of two games. Mechaelsen says the offense struggled to find a rhythm against Interstate 35, but the defense held I-35 scoreless.
He says, more than anything, the team found ways to win in a variety of ways, which is “super positive.”
Mechaelsen says Clarinda’s explosive offense jumps out at him when watching film. The Cardinals take a balanced attack into Friday’s game, with 589 yards passing and 457 yards rushing. Cooper Baumgart and Baylor Hash have 384 and 457 yards, respectively.
Mechaelsen admits the team’s focus remains the same each and every Friday night: to stop the run first and make teams one-dimensional.
Coach Mechaelsen says that playing high-caliber opponents, as they have over the past three weeks, pays dividends for his ballclub during district and postseason play.
Underwood enters the contest with 430 passing yards, triggered by sophomore quarterback Nash Mitchell, who is 28/48 for 430 yards, seven touchdowns, and just one interception. The Eagles have 211 rushing yards led by River Allen, who has 35 carries for 164 yards.
