No. 9 J-Hawks Have Dreams of Division Football Crown

No. 9 Urbandale has high hopes for a Class 4-A Division 1 championship in the season that begins Friday against visiting Fort Dodge.

The championship was within reach in a 7-3 season last year that was closer than the record indicates. The J-Hawks’ three losses were by  combined 12 points, the Des Moines Register reports. The J-Hawks lost by three points to West Des Moines Valley (28-25), by six points to Sioux City East (27-21) and by three points in a double overtime loss to Johnston (58-55) in the first round of the state playoffs.

“Last year, all the games we lost were close,” returning quarterback Logan Augustine told the newspaper. “We just want to keep coming out on the winning side.”

Urbandale, coached by Sam Anderson, returns 11 starters, including Iowa State recruit and two-time Elite all-state wide receiver and defensive back Allen Lazard.

Lazard caught 11 scoring passes in 2012 and should bring big-play potential to the J-Hawk offense, the Register said. Last year’s feats included a 67-yard reception against Lincoln.

“We had a fade route and he jumped up and came down with the ball in one hand,” Augustine told the register. “He was able to push (a defender) off him and went in for a touchdown.”

Others returning to the J-Hawk roster besides Lazard and Augustine are running back Toren Stewart; offensive linemen Jake Grau, Jake Heinrich and Alex Quirk; defensive linemen Ramel Lane, Luke Schmitt and Spencer Elbert; linebacker Reece Cracraft; and defensive back Dalton Coady.