Jack Van Diest and Trey Mathis make a tackle in the first half on Friday. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

THIS ISN’T THE MOVIES: Friday was only the second time this season that Webster City trailed entering the fourth quarter and so I wondered: Were there any magical words from head coach Bob Howard between periods that jump-started the rally?

The Lynx Hall of Fame head coach scowled.

Uh, no.

“That’s ‘Rudy’ type stuff,” he said. “We want to play well on every play.”

WINNING SHOULD BE CELEBRATED: No, the Lynx victory over Mason City in the second round of the postseason was nowhere near as dominant as the 42-7 rout a month earlier, but who cares?

That’s essentially what Howard told his players following Friday’s close call. It’s the second time this season that he’s had to remind his team that a win — any win — is something to celebrate.

“It’s obviously hard because of all the predictions and the kids listen to all of that,” he said. “But we won the game. It’s like we got beat, but we didn’t get beat. We won the dang game and had a lot of kids make plays. And that’s against a school that dang near has 700 kids in it and a lot of talent.”

WILL HE PLAY? The status of WCHS all-state tailback Trey Mathis for Friday’s game against Sergeant Bluff-Luton will obviously be important to a lot of fans, but minutes after the game Howard said there’s only one way he can currently play it.

“Right now I’m planning on playing like we just played because that’s what you have to do,” he said. “Hopefully he’ll be back.”

Mathis left Friday’s win over Mason City early in the second quarter with a hamstring injury and didn’t return.