Experienced Underwood Squad Ready for Another Dome Run

Experienced Underwood Squad Ready for Another Dome Run -

(8-14-23) – Even though it was short-lived, last year’s trip to the UNI-Dome could pay big dividends for this year’s Underwood squad.

“I think it's very valuable,” Coach Nate Mechaelsen told KNOD Sports. “We're returning quite a few players on that team that had that experience and I think, obviously, during the regular season, but really when it comes time for the, for the postseason, I think that those experiences hopefully really pay off for our ball club.”

Sophomore quarterback Garrett Luett takes over the reins of this high-powered Eagles offense that averaged 50 pts per game. Mechaelsen feels Luett’s success in other sports gives him the leadership skills to handle the position.

“We have full confidence and I think our entire team does as well. For only being a sophomore, he has a pretty strong voice on our team. He's a kid that's really talented in multiple sports as a kid that he’s already participated at the varsity level.”

Defensively, Underwood allowed just 15 points per game with three shutouts. 41 turnovers created were a key to that defensive success.

“I think it starts with our defensive coordinator Tyler Ritter puts together a really good plan each week and to our players, credit they for the most part execute that plan.’

Underwood will have a real test to start the season when they host defending Class 1A champs Van Meter on August 25th. Listen to Coach Mechaelsen’s interview about his Wheelers during our KNOD Football Coach’s Interviews August 21st through the 24th.

View past scores by visiting the Iowa High School Athletic Association's website, Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union website,
or Iowa Quik Stats