Linn-Mar Football Loses First Opening Game in 3 Years

The  Lions lost 49-14 to Iowa City West in their initial game of the season.

Lions Coach Bob Forsyth told Metro Sports Report the loss was due to anxiety.

"Our young kids were so nervous I don’t think they started to breathe until the second quarter," said Lions Coach Bob Forsyth.

Jason Epner, a reporter for KWWL, said the "young and gritty" Linn-Mar team started off slow, not picking up a score until West High already had a lead of 28-0.

Forsyth said that this match was the first time the team lost a game in August or September for three years.

That disappointment might come from a huge lineup change from last year.

Three key players graduated from Linn-Mar High School in the spring, according to KCRG, along with "the vast majority of the pieces that produced a 10-1 record..."

Linn-Mar went into the playoffs undefeated last year before falling to Cedar Rapids Washington.

Linn-Mar will play an away-game against Dubuque Senior High School Thursday.