Now, what is this about a 41-game winning streak?
That essentially was the mind-set of the top-ranked Akron football team after drubbing Denver Lutheran 42-7 on Saturday in a Class 1A nonleague game at Brinkman Field.
The three-time defending champion Rams pushed their winning streak to 41 — nine games shy of the state record held by Limon — but not a word was heard about the stretch of invincibility until the players were asked about it.
“We’re trying not to pay attention to it, and stay away from thinking about the past,” said Rams running back Byron Guy, who rushed for 115 yards, scored two touchdowns and intercepted a pass. “We just have two wins; we’re 2-0 right now. We respect our tradition, but our focus is on this particular season.”
That being said, Guy gave in a little when it was pointed out the Rams will have an opportunity to enter the record book if they remain perfect through the state semifinals.
“We would love to beat Limon’s record, take away their streak,” he said. “But we’re not worrying about that right now.”
Akron also received 148 rushing yards and a touchdown from sophomore Jourdan Hottinger, but it took the Rams more than a half to shake off unranked Lutheran (1-1). The pesky Lights trailed only 14-7 early in the third quarter after David Beach’s 15-yard touchdown reception from Taylor Hanley. Akron asserted its dominance by scoring on four of its final five possessions (the Rams fumbled at Lutheran’s 1-yard line on the other).
“This is the second straight week we’ve had a slow start,” said Akron senior Kendall Monasmith, whose 29-yard touchdown catch midway through the fourth was the dagger. “But once we get clicking, we get rolling.”
Akron rolled up 429 total yards — 303 on the ground — while limiting Lutheran to 130 total. The Lights were within striking distance until the Rams’ punishing and deceiving running game gradually wore them down.
“It hurts and it stings because we wanted to be in it the whole game, and expected to be,” Lutheran coach Joel Brase said. “But there are some good things we’ll take from this, and we’ll be ready for next week.”
Speaking of next week, Akron’s streak figures to face a stiff challenge Friday when the Rams welcome fourth-ranked Burlington to their home turf. Team discussion undoubtedly will have more to do with Burlington than anything involving the number 42.
Akron 0 14 7 21 — 42
Denver Lutheran 0 0 7 0 — 7
A — Guy 2 run (Guy kick). A — Guy 12 pass from Friedly (Guy kick). DL — Beach 15 pass from Hanley (Langewisch kick). A — Crumley 14 run (Guy kick). A — Hottinger 19 run (Guy kick). A — Monasmith 29 pass from Friedly (Guy kick). A — Friedly 2 run (Guy kick).
