If you’re a Heelan Coach your goal is to win state championships…period. It goes without saying that in 3A football if you’re Heelan the road to a state championship will most likely always include a visit with the Harlan Cyclones.

The Heelan coaching staff had the luxury of having one of the best running backs in the state “ever” in their program the last few years…and we all know the results. We were able to run the ball and PASS when needed.

It’s also important to understand that Wegher’s success would not have occured though without an offensive line that was dedicated to run blocking and opening holes…and that they did.

Heelan did everything but win the game Friday night. The absense of a running game is truly what kept them from leaving Harlan that night with a W.

The running game was for all intents and purposes was never a priority for this coaching staff this season. When you play Harlan the 2nd game of the season and lose and have less than 30 yards rushing you’d think you would understand where you needed to improve. If you were at the game ask yourself…did we improve our offensive line ability to run the ball against Harlan from the 1st game to the 2nd? Actually we did worse the 2nd game.

This coaching staff is big on playing kids both ways. Apparently their philosphy is to have a core of 10 to 12 players that play 99% of the time. That may work just fine against weak competition but against the elite programs…not so much! If you were in attendance Friday night it was totally obvious that the kids going both ways were gassed before half-time.

Two of the physically strongest senior players for this Heelan team were not allowed to help this team the whole season. They spent most of their senior year watching from the sidelines. The Heelan fans do need to know that Heelan does have enough quality players. Certainly enough to where you do not have to have basically 8 or 9 guys going both ways all of the time.

No rushing attempts in the 2nd half ?
Negative rushing yards for the game?
The offense was very good but needed to be able RUN and pass against a great Harlan team.
To much was put on the shoulders of McCabe to pass all the time…no fault of Zach…he played well.
The defense was a state championship caliber defense.

You had enough quality athletes that you could have beefed up your offensive line and not played so many kids both ways.
In the end there were to many turnovers…
This Heelan team did have the talent to win a state championship.

Take off your Hawkeye colored glasses long enough to give Iowa State credit for the win in Lincoln.

Or are you still sticking with your brilliant analysis posted on October 13th?

Scclone

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Can anyone tell me why Iowa St. is still in the Big 12? Maybe they should team up the Cyclones with Vanderbilt, Northwestern, and Washington St. in the same conference. All are the traditional doormats of their respective conferences.

Keep up the great work on the blogs Chris. I always enjoy reading them.