Lenox hopes to hold their horses

LENOX – The Tigers beat Lamoni 52-8 during the first round of IAHSAA playoffs on Friday, and this Friday Newell-Fonda (8-1) heads to Lenox for second round action.

Newell-Fonda, the Mustangs, traveled to Janesville last week where they beat the Wildcats 63-8.

This is the first matchup between Lenox and Newell-Fonda since the Mustangs became a school in 1989 after the consolidation of Newell-Providence and Fonda.

Newell-Fonda hasn’t advanced past the Second Round since 2015, and the season prior, 2014, they won the eight-player state title over Fremont-Mills, 39-35.

Mason Dicks, the junior quarterback, leads the Mustangs in passing yards and rushing yards with 1,345 yards (19 touchdowns) and 1,221 yards (21 touchdowns) respectively.

“They do a lot of really good things, it all starts with their quarterback No. 15 he can throw the ball extremely well and he’s a very good runner too,” Lenox head coach Cole Bonde said. “For a defense it makes it difficult because they do a variety of formations, a lot of motion, pullers and it’s hard to predict what they’re going to do.”

Coach Bonde stresses fundamentals for players, formations and plays.

“For us on defense, it’s got to be alignment assignment football,” Bonde said. “If they’re twins right with a single on the other side, what’s most likely going to come? It’s a lot of mental preparation, watching the film and getting reps in practice.”

Offensively, Lenox has to prepare for the differing formations, stunts and blitzes shown by the Mustangs.

“They got a couple different defensive formations they do,” Bonde said. “They’ve shown three [down linemen] or four and we try to pencil in the two maybe the three that we think they’ll be in and really rap on that because their defense is really good they fly around to the ball.”

Caden Meyer, No. 56 for Newell-Fonda, stands 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighs 200 pounds.

Meyer leads the defensive line with 37.5 tackles with 28 of those being individual tackles.

“Their defensive line always stays home and they make plays with pursuit coming back the other way,” Bonde said. “For us, our guys have got to get to the guy they’re supposed to and we’ve got to account for the hats. If we do that, our running backs will get the yards.”

Through nine games, the Lenox ground attack has 2,939 yards, 53 touchdowns and the Tigers average 9.7 yards per carry. Coach Bonde is making sure his offense knows they likely won’t get long rush after long rush Friday.

“It’s not going to be a 50-yard touchdown, it might have to be a 20 play drive where we’re gaining four yards at a time but that’s something we have to be okay with.” Bonde summarized.

With kickoff set at 7 p.m., and Lenox looking to advance to the third round for the first time since 2010, coach Bonde is looking forward to the matchup.

“It should be one for the books,” Bonde said.

Starting lineups

Offense

TE Duncan Marshall

G Dawson Marshall

C Devin Whipple

G Hernan Castor

TE Johnathan Weaver

FB Keigan Kitzman

RB Isaac Grundman

QB Gabe Funk

Defense

DE Dawson Marshall

DT Devin Whipple

DE Hernan Castor

LB Johnathan Weaver

LB Keigan Kitzman

DB Caden David

DB Samson Adams

DB Isaac Grundman