"We thought we didn't play our best game against Davis County so we wanted to prove ourselves in our last game," said Cavanagh who's team was mired in a 7-7 tie at halftime against the Falcons of West Burlington-Notre Dame before rolling out 40 unanswered points in the second half to earn the 47-7 win.
With the win, the Golden Hawks qualify for the post-season as a second seed from Class 2A District 6, and will host their first round playoff game.
"It's nice to not have to travel on a school night," said Cavanagh of his team's first-round playoff game at home in Wellman on Wednesday, October 28. "It's nice that you've finished in the top two in the district. Three years ago it would have meant that we made the playoffs where West Burlington didn't."
The new State playoff system features the top four teams from each district. West Burlington finishes third in District 6 and will play at Iowa City Regina, while Mediapolis will have to play at undefeated Solon. Sigourney-Keota spoiled Davis County's efforts to finish their season undefeated in District 6, the Savage Cobras upset Davis County 41-12.
From Class 2A District 5, the Center Point Urbana Stormin' Pointers lost a 13-10 bout to Iowa City Regina on October 23, and will play at Mid-Prairie on Wednesday evening, October 28.
Cavanagh took some time on Saturday to watch some film from the Stormin' Pointers.
"I've been watching some film," said Cavanagh, "They run the ball very well, they have two or three pretty good backs who are fast so we're going to have to play great defense and tackle well. We're going to have to play like we did against West Burlington not Davis County. Their defense shut down some people so we're gong to have to play well offensively. It should be a tough physical game."
The Pointers are 6-3 overall with losses to Williamsburg, Solon and Regina.
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West Burlington 7
The Golden Hawks floundered in the first quarter against the Falcons, coughing up a fumble on their first drive of the game, and allowing Burlington to score the first points of the game.
The Golden Hawks got on the scoreboard next, handing the ball off to Tanner Miller who slipped through the Falcon defense for a 75-yard TD run with 10:01 left in the second quarter.
Neither team was able to mount any more offense in the first half and the game was tied 7-7 at halftime.
"We did not play very well in the first quarter at all. That's a little disappointing," said Cavanagh of his team's effort in the first half of the game. "Then they came out and played really well in the second half. Our kids have been that way - they've been really resilient all year. For them to do that in the second half is better then to not do it."
"Tonight we were out of our heads, came out a little flat unfortunately," said RB Tanner Miller who led his team with 209 rushing yards and two rushing TDs. "We were there physically we just weren't all there mentally."
Miller's offensive output got his team going again in the second half, when he scored from 16-yards out with 8:03 left in the third quarter.
"I try to give my team any little spark I can. That's what I did with that little run that I had," said Miller. "I just try to be a senior leader, provide some sparks, and we really rallied back and poured it on in the second half."
Credit goes to the offensive line for creating those gaps that Miller finds.
"That all starts up front with all that," said Miller.
Coach Cavanagh said while maybe his team was flat in the first quarter, he'd give West Burlington credit for good defense.
"I thought West Burlington played real well defensively," said Cavanagh. "They were keying on Tanner and we sprung a couple of big ones but for the most part I thought they kind of bottled him up."
Quarterback Mark Aldeman had to make some good decisions in the second half to help break open the logjam.
"I thought Mark, in the second half, made some plays in the passing game that we were able to take advantage of," said Cavanagh. "In the first we had some, but we dropped one, and we fumbled another on, and we had some bad reads. But we're going to have to do that here in these next couple of games if we're going to be successful."
Aldeman passed for 45 yards, hooking up with Zach Passmore for a 19-yard strike and hitting his brother Michael for a pair of catches.
The biggest thing for the Golden Hawks was creating turnovers. The team forced three fumbles and snagged three interceptions. The wet field may have helped a little.
"We've been doing that all year - creating turnovers," said Cavanagh of his team's effort defensively. "If you do that - create turnovers, you're going to have lopsided scores like that. I think the field hurt them more than it hurt us simply because of their offense."
Zach Passmore had a big game for the Golden Hawks, he took a reverse handoff for a 51-yard TD run in the third quarter, and caught a TD pass from Aldeman three minutes later.
Defensively, the Hawks got interceptions from Tanner Miller, Micah Berg and Jaemin Powell. Powell also had a great night on special teams, netting four tackles (3 solo), and helping pin the Falcon offense deep in their own territory.
Berg had 10 tackles (4 solo) to lead the Hawks in that category, and returned his interception for a 42-yard TD with three-and-a-half minutes left in the game.
