IOWA PREP FOOTBALL: It's easy getting the line on Spartans' success
There are plenty of ways to break down the game of football.
The easiest — and way that most people settle for — is a team's win-loss record.
Obviously, minutia factors heavily in the game of football.
In a big-picture glance, it is easy to see that the Pleasant Valley High School squad has done a nice job of bouncing back from a tough 25-24 season-opening overtime loss to backyard rival Bettendorf.
The 2-1 Spartans have posted victories the last two weeks over Cedar Rapids Kennedy (35-20) and Iowa City Liberty (42-28) — teams that were ranked when they played the Spartans.
"I'm really proud of them," veteran PV head coach Rusty VanWetzinga said of his team that is ranked No. 5 in this week's Bound Power Rankings. "But that's the culture that we have here. It stems from me and the coaching staff; no one is going to feel sorry for you, and you just have to brush yourself off and move on.
"You're going to have ups and downs, and you can't let that define you."
What defines PV as it heads into Friday's game at 2-1 Cedar Rapids Prairie (ranked No. 15 by Bound) is its staunch run game. The flexbone triple option — which incorporates a number of concepts — starts up front with the guys in the trenches and builds from there with an attack designed to possess the ball and keep an opponent's offense off the field.
"I found myself 15 years ago comparing us to the service academies in certain aspects and how they compete against Notre Dame and Michigan and top programs," VanWetzinga said. "They competed with the big boys and found themselves in bowl games. They evened the playing field by running a style of offense that was hard to prep for week in and week out."
In an era of spread offenses and concerted aerial attacks, PV's running game has been the key for the Spartans as they continue their maturation after the opening-week setback.
Senior quarterback Harrison Fierce and senior running back Elijah Rodney are ranked No. 8 and 9 among Iowa Class 5A players in rushing with 397 and 396 yards, respectively.
Both are first-year starters behind a talented offensive line that has played well.
"It's a real physical offensive line," VanWetzinga said. "It's one of the better ones we've had. It may not be the best, but it's real good."
That line is comprised of four seniors — center Carter Engstrom (6-foot-3, 245 pounds), tackle Joey VanWetzinga (6-2, 260), guards Will Diaz (6-4, 285) and Sam Munn (6-1, 270) and junior tackle Roman Saddler (6-foot, 225).
They are backed up by senior Kyle Vonderhaar (6-2, 260) and sophomores Blake Vondarhaar (6-2, 235) and Dane Cox (6-0, 240),
Tight end duties — which in PV's scheme requires a block-first approach — are handled by seniors Max Schmeltzer (6-4, 250) and Adam Bratcher (6-4, 230).
Those guys up front have helped the Spartans churn out some impressive rushing efforts so far and helped control the clock. PV ran for 321 yards against Bettendorf in 45 attempts and last week for 359 in 50 snaps against Liberty. Sandwiched in between was a 210-yard effort in 46 snaps against Kennedy.
However, in that game, Fierce completed 9 of 11 passes for 129 yards and two touchdowns as the Spartans showed some versatility.
"I learned a long time ago when I played for Bob Reade (at Augustana College) and coached for Ed Morrisey and Randy Schrader that if you have a ball-control offense that moves the chains and puts the ball in the end zone, that can be incredibly helpful," VanWetzinga said. "Most teams aren't built like Iowa was last year to have your defense on the field all the time."
So far this season, PV has outscored its foes 101-73, and the coach feels as if his young, rebuilt defense is also getting better.
"Defense is reactive and offense dictates," the coach said. "We've done a nice job of dictating on offense so far, and we're getting better at reacting on defense."
That will also lead to a lot of football success that has become the norm over the years for the Spartans.
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