Newton loses big to Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln in opener

It was supposed to be a big night for the Newton football team. A chance to erase the memories of a 3-6 season in 2008. A fresh start to the 2009 season with high hopes of a playoff season.

Instead, it was a nightmare.

The Cardinals scored first, but Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln got the final laugh Friday in a 52-17 victory over the home team at H.A. Lynn Stadium in Newton.

The Lynx were just bigger, stronger and more skilled on both sides of the ball. And it was quite shocking, too.

"We have a lot of things to look at and fix," Newton football coach Ed Ergenbright said. "We are going to have to get better in all phases. Tonight, (Lincoln) just manhandled us on both lines. They just executed better than we did."

Abraham Lincoln had an accurate quarterback, a very fast and shifty tailback and a potential Division I tight end on offense. And all three gave Newton's defense fits all night.

"I was impressed by how good they were," Ergenbright said. "We just have to get better. We'll keep working."

Devin Hugen scored on a 63-yard option run three plays into the game for Newton, but that's all the Cardinals could muster in the first half until a 31-yard field goal by Matt Easley with no time left in the second quarter.

By that time, the Lynx had built a 28-10 lead and never looked back. They scored four times in the second quarter alone, three of which came on long pass plays. Another touchdown came on a 92-yard run by Austin Erbertowski, who had his way running the ball all night.

Another pass play and big run by Ebertowski made it 42-10 early in the third quarter. Ben Schober scored a 5-yard touchdown run later in the contest for Newton, but the Cardinals walked away with a disappointing start to their season.

"We made some mistakes," Ergenbright said. "They were big and strong. And they just handled us."

In other action around Jasper County, Collins-Maxwell-Baxter easily defeated Eddyville-Blakesburg, 56-27. Colfax-Mingo began its season with a 14-7 win over Nevada, while PCM lost Knoxville in overtime. Also playing an overtime game was Lynnville-Sully as the Hawks downed English Valleys, 22-20.

In a battle of two top 10 ranked teams in Class 4A, Ottumwa upset Southeast Polk in Runnels, 21-10, while another top-10 battle in Class 4A saw Ankeny take down Waukee in double overtime.

The biggest game of the night was played in Parkersburg as Aplington-Parkersburg hosted rival Dike-New Hartford in the first game since legendary A-P coach Ed Thomas was shot and killed by a former player inside the school's weight room this  past summer. 

The game aired nationally on ESPN. Aplington-Parkersburg was able to walk away with a 30-14 victory as several news media from around the state was in attendance.