Blue Devils fall in shootout

By Chris Bennett

Sports Correspondent

The Southern Lakes Blue Devils finally found some offense Aug. 2 in the team’s Ironman Football League contest against the Rock River Raptors in Loves Park, Ill.

Unfortunately, the team didn’t find enough. The Blue Devils scored a season high in points, but still lost 45-29 to the Raptors.

The juxtaposition is not lost on Blue Devils coach Tom Hawkins, who went the throwback route and installed the wing-T because it fit his personnel.

“We finally got an offense that worked,” Hakwins said. “Defensively, they weren’t getting the stops.”

Hawkins said the Blue Devils rushed for more than 300 yards. Backup quarterback Torin Turner rushed for more than 150 on his own. Turner played the second half and led the offense to 21 points after starter Dana Short left due to injury.

“We were able to hit them from so many different angles, with counters … mis-directions ,” Hawkins said. “I looked at what we had for personnel.”

Defensively, the Blue Devils played without linebacker Darnell Lynch and cornerback Lashawn Goode, who did not travel with the team.

“It showed up big time,” Hawkins said. “They’re two of the guys who usually set up the defense. It hurt.”

Rock River’s backup quarterback Adam Becker threw to five different receivers for more than 350 yards.

Rock River defeated the Blue Devils 21-3 July 19 at Westosha Central. The Blue Devils’ defense forced five turnovers.

The Blue Devils travel to Whitnall High School in Greenfield Saturday for an IFL matchup with the West Allis Scorpions (5-2).

The Scorpions started 5-0 but are losers of their last two games.

“They’re very much an improved team,” Hawkins said. “I think everybody is an improved team this year.”

The Blue Devils play three more regular season games, all on the road, before the IFL playoffs begin Aug 30.

The format of the playoffs is all-play. The fourth-place team in each division plays at the first-place team, and the second-place team plays host to the third-place team. The IFL is split into two conferences – American and National.

The first-round winners play the weekend of Sept. 6 in the conference title games. The conference champions meet at 7 p.m. Sept. 13 at Hart Park in Wauwatosa for the IFL Championship.

The Rock County Rage is the defending IFL Champion.


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