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4A Championship:
Marshalltown (13-0) 14 vs. Iowa City, City High (13-0) 42
Who would have thought, outside of perhaps the town of Marshalltown, that the Bobcats would be where they are tonight? But after taking care of Ankeny (which many would call an upset) and upsetting Dowling in dramatic fashion, here they are playing for the 4A championship. All season long the Bobcats have been a team that was undefeated and good, but not really getting the respect they deserved. Well, here’s their chance to prove they really are deserving of being called the best.
What a match up at quarterback. I’ve written Chanse Creekmur’s name more than any other high school player over the past two seasons, and he leads the state in passing with 3316 yards, with 33 touchdowns to boot, wow. On the other side of the ball is one of the most highly touted players in the state, quarterback and future Hawkeye, A.J. Derby. His passing numbers aren’t as impressive as Creekmur's, but when you factor in his 707 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns, you can imagine my excitement to see him play. Fact: There will be a ton of talent on the field tonight.
CHANSE CREEKMUR TALKS WITH SCOTT REISTER
COACH HOLDIMAN TALKS WITH SCOTT REISTER
COACH EGGLESTON TALKS WITH THE TEAM IN LOCKER ROOM
TJ Rushing, High School Playbook
The Marshalltown crowd flooded the UNI Dome 75 minutes before game time and has now nearly fully occupied the 8,000 seat west side of the dome. Iowa City’s crowd is very weak in comparison, not even 1,000 fans yet, with 33 minutes till kickoff. It’s obvious to see that these Marshalltown fans are in love with their team.
Last Update, 6:33 p.m.
Apparently the Iowa City High fans are procrastinators, because they came in droves about 20 minutes before kickoff, almost filling their side of the dome as well. Needless to say it is very loud in here.
With 9:02 remaining in the first quarter Iowa City, City High’s Ellis Jordan broke off a 44 yard run from this hand off to put the Little Hawks ahead 7-0.
Last update, 7:14 p.m.
Creekmur and Nick Thimesch hooked up three times in 1:06 and the Bobcats sliced threw the City High defense like a knife through butter. This could be a barn-burner, 7-7 with 7:56 remaining in the first.
last update 7:19
City High's Ellis Jordan broke off another beautiful long run with 2:32 in the first, what a great running back. That run put him at 121 yards in the first quarter, pretty unbelievable. Creekmur and company came right back down the field and tied the game at 14 with a beautiful play call.Creekmur rolled right, while Jarred Carlson ran a cross-route to the left side of the field. Carlson was wide open on the left side and Creekmur threw across the field right into his arms, Carlson acrobatically dove into the endzone giving Creekmur his 35th TD of the year.
Last Update, 7:47 p.m.
Surprisingly the offenses looked a bit stale after the Carlson touchdown. A.J. Derby booted a 57 yard punt down to the Marshalltown 20 with 7:48 remaining in the half, giving City High at least the temporary advantage in the battle of field position. Then on third and five Creekmur was flushed from the pocket (which has been happening on every pass play) and sacked from behind, fumbling on Marshalltown’s own 30. Derby’s 57 yard punt may as well have been a 57 yard pass.
Derby, in a very Tim Tebow like fashion, bowled his way into the end zone after a 10 yard run. Iowa City takes a 21-14 advantage with 5:35 remaining in the half, and Creekmur’s fumble proves to be very costly.
Last Update 8:05 p.m.
Creekmur has absolutely no time to throw the ball and was sacked on third and nine, another Marshalltown possession without a first down.
The best player on the field may not be Creekmur, Derby, or Carlson, but instead Ellis Jordan. The five-foot-seven-inch running back is darn impressive.
Derby was able to connect with David Koehnke for about a 20 yard touchdown strike giving the Little Hawks the 21-14 lead with 2:30 remaining in the half. The Little Hawks have every ounce of momentum in this game.
Last Update, 8:15 p.m.
Derby punted to the Bobcats with 32 seconds remaining, which was followed by a 35 yard connection with Thimesch on the right sideline. Thimesch than caught another pass and with seven seconds remaining the Bobcats were on the 15 yardline threatening to only take a seven point deficit as well as momentum into half. A sack with an additional grounding tacked on placed the Bobcats back at their 26 with one second remaining. They attempted and missed the 43 yard field goal.
HALFTIME
MARSHALLTOWN 14
CITY HIGH 28
Impressive first half stats:
Marshalltown: Chance Creekmur: 12-17, 186 yards and 2TD's
Nick Thimesch: 4 catches 72 yards Josh Illum, four punts, 46.5 average
City High: Ellis Jordan: 11 carries, 138 yards and 2TD's A.J. Derby: 3 punts, 151 yards, 113 total yards and 2 TD's
Last Update, 8:41p.m.
A beautiful drive was suddenly turned ugly after a 12 yard sack put the Bobcats in a third and 20 situation, Creekmur was sacked again the next play, forcing the Bobcats to punt. Josh Illum continued his tremendous punting and boomed a 52 yarder down to City High’s two yard line.
Iowa City executes a fake punt from their own eight yard line and gains 24 yards to the Marshalltown 32, a very gutsy call that greatly hurts the Bobcats chances of getting back into this game. On fourth down and five from their own 45 the Little Hawks actually do decide to punt this time, and Marshalltown takes over on their own 20, trailing by 14 with 3:38 remaining in the third.
Last update, 9:09 p.m.
City High’s senior cornerback John Chelf made a beautiful interception after Creekmur tried to go deep to Carlson with 2:43 remaining in the third, it’s City High’s ball on their own 44. Going into the fourth quarter the Little Hawks are driving and on the Bobcats 34. It will take a monster fourth quarter out of Marshalltown if they have chance to win this game.
Last Update, 9:20
On third down and 15 Derby throws a beautiful screen to sophomore John Law who was able to muscle his way into paydirt and make a Marshalltown title seem almost impossible. Iowa City High leads 35-14 with 9:31 remaining in the game.
Last update, 9:29 p.m.
On the ensuing possession Creekmur was once again sacked and he once again fumbled, this time inside the Bobcat’s own 10. It took one play for Ellis Jordan to run in his third touchdown of the game and virtually seal the deal for City High, giving them the 42-14 advantage.
Last Update, 9:33 p.m.
Creekmur, who has been rumored to have been talking with Iowa State about possibly playing football,was very impressive tonight showing arm strength, accuracy and elusiveness in the pocket. And his receiving corps, including Carlson, Thimesch and at least for tonight, Mark Duncan, is fantastic. However the better team and the more well rounded team did in fact win this game.
A.J. Derby is a great athlete, and will be going to Iowa next season, he made it apparent tonight that he won’t be going there to play quarterback though, linebacker, or tight end would seem more likely. The player of the game is Ellis Jordan with his 172 yards and three touchdowns, he is a phenomenal high school running back.
FINAL
MARSHALLTOWN 14
CITY HIGH 42
Last Update, 9:50 p.m.
MARSHALLTOWN ACCEPTS RUNNER-UP TROPHY
TJ Rushing, High School Playbook
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