WEBSTER CITY'S TY McKINNEY makes a play on Friday. The Lynx routed Denison-Schleswig, 63-7. (DFJ photo by Patrick Coons)

Denison-Schleswig knew exactly what Webster City was going to do on Friday, yet there was nothing the Monarchs could do to stop the Lynx.

Webster City (6-3 overall, 4-1 Class 1A, District 1) ran for 404 more yards in a 63-7 rout of D-S (4-5, 2-3) to close the regular season. The win officially vaulted the Lynx into the postseason for the third straight season and 24th overall.

“This team has several three-year starters and some that have played all four years,” said WCHS head coach Bob Howard. “They’ve learned from the classes ahead of them, they are multi-sport athletes, train year-round, and have continued the legacy that previous teams have established.

“This makes 13 out of 16 years that we’ve qualified for the playoffs, and with the changes our school has undergone the past few years, plus playing 4A football, that is a notable accomplishment.”

Junior Jaxon Cherry etched his name into the school history books, tying Gavin Dinsdale as the Lynx’s single season rushing touchdown leader.

Cherry rushed for four more touchdowns, giving him 29 on the season. He has 49 in his career, which is six behind Dinsdale’s all-time mark of 55.

The Lynx got on the board early and often, building a 28-0 lead in the first quarter and carried a 42-7 margin into the locker room.

The work on the ground was so efficient, the Lynx only needed to attempt two passes as they averaged 7.6 yards per carry on 52 attempts.

“Our offense has always been based on three running backs, trying to hit all points of attack across the formations,” Howard said. “We try to determine who the defense is (focusing on) and then hit another area.

“All three of our backs are capable of big games, and against Denison-Schleswig, all three had big runs. Cherry attracts a lot of attention.”

Cherry carried the ball 17 times for 163 yards. He averaged 9.6 yards per tote and had a long touchdown run of 25 yards.

Senior CJ Hisler was next in line, hitting the 100-yard plateau on seven carries at 14.3 per rush. He had a 39-yard touchdown jaunt.

Spinback Ty McKinney reached the end zone twice with a long of seven yards. He had eight carries for 39 yards.

Jayden Weintzetl and Camden Schultz each had touchdown runs as well. Cael Nixon had 58 yards rushing.

Cherry led the defensive charge with five tackles from his linebacker position in limited action due to Webster City again being able to rest its starters with a huge lead. Weinzetl and Skyler Scott recorded four tackles each.

The Lynx finished the season with two straight victories after suffering a 49-40 loss to Spencer, the district co-champion.

Webster City will travel to face fourth-ranked Iowa City Liberty (8-1) in the first round of the playoffs on Friday. Newton (7-2) and Carlisle (8-1) are in the other Pod D matchup.

“Knowing that we needed to win this week to make the playoffs, certainly helped focus the practices and make it a playoff-type week.”