The high school football playoffs resume today in the UNI-Dome with the semifinal round in class A. Third-ranked Newman heads into the semifinal round for the fourth time in school history and will face top-ranked Lisbon. Newman coach Mike Dirksen knows he’ll be facing a high-octane offense that averages almost 50 points per game, led by quarterback Ben Knake and running back Tait Simpson.
Dirksen says they have a number of solid athletes and he says Simpson is able to get a lot of yards after contact. It’s Newman’s third appearance in the semifinals in the last five years, but Dirksen says his team does have to make some adjustments to playing inside.
He says you learn something new every time you go, but he says they try to keep it low key. Dirksen says they worked inside to get used to breathing the warm air and they know they have to stay hydrated.
Lisbon comes in undefeated with a 12-0 record while Newman is 11-1.
By Bob Fisher, KLSS,Mason City