Wakefield takes Class C-2 title
digg it!
Facebook
del.icio.us
Seed Newsvine
Fark It
Reddit
BY BRENT C. WAGNER / Lincoln Journal Star
You can call this Wakefield defense deceptive, cornerback Colby Henderson says.
Henderson wasn’t looking into a mirror when he made that claim following Wakefield’s 19-0 victory against Blue Hill in the Class C-2 state championship game on Friday. He probably should have been, though.
At 5-foot-9 and about 145 pounds, Henderson looks more the part of punter than punishing tackler.
Related Media
Class C-2 State Football Action
Blue Hill played Wakefield Friday at Memorial Stadium?in the Class C-2 State High School Football Championship. (Hilary Kindschuh / JournalStar.com)...
“People usually expect to just run over me,” Henderson said. “I usually change their mind after the first couple plays.”
It only took one play this game. Henderson had a tackle for loss on Blue Hill’s first offensive play, and an interception — one of three for Blue Hill — three plays later.
He never let up, either. Henderson mauled another guy near the goal line, had a game-high seven solo tackles and a ton of fun. Along the way, Henderson made a lot of new fans among the crowd of 2,500 and a statewide TV audience.
Heck, Henderson wasn’t even a defensive starter until his senior season.
“(Henderson) is the toughest kid pound-for-pound in the state of Nebraska,” Wakefield coach Justin Smith said. “He’s been dropping guys all year long and has found his niche.”
If the first shutout in the Class C-2 title game in seven seasons wasn’t indication enough, the entire Trojans’ defense was a pest.
Wakefield held in check a Blue Hill offense that had been averaging about 300 yards and 30 points per game. The Bobcats managed only meaningless yards between the 20s, had 180 yards of offense and only reached scoring territory twice.
About 10 years ago all they wanted to do at Wakefield was win games. Now the Trojans were determined to get the shutout that eluded them in last year’s state championship game, when Wakefield also beat Blue Hill 34-7.
“We always play that well on defense,” Smith said. “They’re scrappy kids that just love playing defense and do their job.
“In our defense, if everybody does their job, it’s awfully tough to move the ball.”
Before the game, though, it was the Blue Hill defense that everybody was buzzing about. The Bobcats (12-1) had allowed only 25 points all season and were giving up about 130 yards per game.
But it was Wakefield that was able to get fourth-down stops on defense and later convert its own chances. Wakefield had 170 yards offense after the first half and a 13-0 lead. When the Wakefield offense got going, it was efficient, but it had to be to overcome three lost fumbles.
The Trojans marched 82 yards on eight plays on their opening possession, capped by Nixon’s 11-yard touchdown run around the corner.
A short field set up Ian Miner’s 4-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, and he scored again later to cap a 70-yard drive in the fourth quarter that averaged 10 yards per play. Wakefield rushed for 263 yards and threw for 120.
“That offense is really a bear to try to get ready for in five days, and when you have a quarterback like Joel Nixon who will run it, just makes it that much tougher,” Blue Hill coach Scott Porter said.
Unlike last season, Wakefield wasn’t able to pound it between the tackles for big gains. Instead, the Trojans came at Blue Hill from everywhere. Miner rushed for a game-high 130 yards. Nixon was 10-for-13 passing for 120 yards to go with 60 yards rushing to lead his team to its 26th straight victory.
Aside from a few fumbles, Nixon was good, and that was expected. It was the little cornerback who packs a big hit who made a name for himself at Memorial Stadium.
“We call Colby Henderson the assassin,” Nixon said, “and you can obviously see why.”
Reach Brent C. Wagner at 473-7435 or bwagner@journalstar.com.
Post Your Comment
Standards and RulesYour posted comment will appear after it has been approved.
Frequently asked questions about story commenting.
DEF wrote on November 16, 2007 4:02 pm: