SULLY – North Mahaska coach Trey Bennett is a bit of an optimist. The second year head coach felt good about his team heading into Friday’s Class 1A District 6 matchup at No. 4 Lynnville-Sully. However, penalties and miscues allowed the Hawks to score a 48-0 victory.

The game was start and stop throughout as the teams were assessed penalty after penalty. It was not until 17.5 seconds into the game that Lynnville-Sully scored on a 26-yard reception by Blake Van Wyk. The Hawks added a 2-point conversion for the early lead.

Fouls compounded problems for North Mahaska’s offense as they could not gain ground. Unofficially the Warhawks accumulated 159 yards in penalties and just 92 yards in total offense. All the positive yards came in the passing game as Nate Sampson and Lucas Nunnikhoven combined for 19 completions for 92 yards and two interceptions. Adding to the Warhawk woes were dropped passes in the open and muffed kicking game receptions.

Bennett was short and two the point and took the loss on himself.

“We lacked discipline and physicality, discipline and physicality and that’s on me,” said Bennett.

Besides the two interceptions LS also recovered two NM fumbles. North Mahaska also had its own defensive moments with a blocked field goal in the first quarter and a fumble recovery.

North Mahaska (1-1, 0-1) will return home this week for another district game with Central Decatur (1-1). They defeated Nodaway Valley Friday 23-0.