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THE NEXT, NEXT MAN IN

Bedford gets his shot as Lynx featured back

Webster City junior Carter Bedford (25) gets out in the open for a nice gain against top-ranked Dallas Center-Grimes last Friday. Bedford will get the start at tailback on Friday when the Lynx travel to Perry to take on the Bluejays. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

WEBSTER CITY — This isn’t how Carter Bedford wanted to get his shot. Nevertheless, he hopes to seize it and run with it, quite literally.

It’s next, next man in for the Webster City football team this week as it prepares for a must-win game against Class 3A District 2 rival Perry on the Bluejays home turf Friday night. Following a 20-0 loss to top-ranked Dallas Center-Grimes last week, the Lynx (5-1, 3-1) can’t afford another loss if they want to extend their streak of playoff appearances to 10. Head coach Bob Howard says he hasn’t mentioned that fact to his players, but he says they’re aware of the circumstances.

“They know they’ve got to win every game,” he said. “If they don’t realize that it’s three one-game seasons back-to-back-to-back, they’re in the wrong place anyway.”

No. 3 on the depth chart at tailback as recent as two weeks ago, Bedford, a junior, will be in the starting backfield when the ball is kicked off at 7:30 p.m.

The attrition in the backfield began eight days ago when WCHS learned it would be without starting tailback and 3A rushing leader Zane Williams indefinitely due to an undisclosed medical condition. There is a slim possibility that he could return for the regular season finale against Boone on Oct. 20.

Webster City nose tackle James Cherry (60) applies the pressure and forces Dallas Center-Grimes quarterback Damon Clapper to throw the ball away last Friday night in Grimes. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

Despite not playing against DC-G, Williams’ 1,113 yards still leads the class by 33 yards. His total is 477 yards clear of his closest rival in the district.

Trace Kepler, the Lynx starting wingback for five weeks, moved over to tailback and got the nod against DC-G, but he went down with a right knee injury late in the second quarter. Howard says he won’t be in uniform either on Friday.

Kepler has 152 yards rushing to his credit on the season.

“It’s the same as we were last Friday after the ball game, neither one of the tailbacks are playing,” Howard said. “But I think Carter Bedford will be just fine.”

Enter Bedford, the junior varsity starter who had just five varsity carries under his belt prior to last Friday. He was able to pick up 51 yards against a Mustangs’ defense considered one of the best in the class.

Yes, Bedford is inexperienced. But at his disposal is one of the best offensive lines — it features Cooper Lawson and James Cherry at the guards, Austin Lampman and Bryer McCoy at the tackles and Alex Wolfgram at center — in 3A, and Howard says Bedford has the talent to get the job done.

“He’s a good player,” Howard said. “He’s done very well on the JV at tailback and this is his opportunity. If the line takes care of business, that really helps the backs.”

The good news is that spinback Dylan Steen is healthy. He’s been responsible for 909 yards of offense — 497 rushing and 412 passing — and 10 touchdowns.

Howard says there were bright moments for the new-look offense against DC-G. But four turnovers stunted any momentum the Lynx may have generated.

“Other than turning the ball over, we played pretty dang well, to be honest,” he said. “Stats can be very deceiving.”

If the offense is unable to fire on all cylinders, that will put the onus on the defense to pick up the slack, something it did fairly well against the Mustangs. DC-G was able to reel off a handful of long runs, but was otherwise bottled up. WCHS forced three turnovers, including a pair of interceptions by Steen, who is the 3A leader with seven.

“He’s been in the right place at the right time and he’s been where he’s supposed to be,” Howard said of Steen, the team’s free safety. “It’s not just luck … he’s done a nice job back there and hopefully he can get a couple more.”

Steen and the rest of the Lynx secondary will have its opportunities against a Perry (2-4, 1-3) team that throws the ball liberally. Quarterback Alex Garrido threw for 318 yards and four touchdowns in the Bluejays’ 31-27 victory over Gilbert last week.

On the season, Garrido has completed 62 of 127 throws for 850 yards and nine TD’s. He’s also been picked off six times.

“They’ve got a talented quarterback who is a good athlete and he runs well,” Howard said. “He throws well enough if you give him time, but they’ve got to have some time to throw those deep balls. So it comes down to pass rush again, keeping him in the pocket, and then knocking down some of those passes or picking them off.”

Perry ranks last in the district in rushing with just 500 yards.

Class 3A District 2

Team Dist Over

DC-Grimes 4-0 6-0

Boone 4-0 6-0

Webster City 3-1 5-1

Ballard 2-2 2-4

Gilbert 1-3 1-5

Greene County 1-3 1-5

Perry 1-3 2-4

IF-Alden 0-4 1-6

Week 7 Games

Webster City at Perry

DC-Grimes at IF-Alden

Ballard at Boone

Greene County at Gilbert

Week 8 Games

IF-Alden at Webster City

Boone at DC-Grimes

Gilbert at Ballard

Greene County at Perry

Week 9 Games

Webster City at Boone

DC-Grimes at Gilbert

Ballard at Greene County

Perry at IF-Alden

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