Bobcats find next step in second half
Fourth-ranked Marshalltown rallies from behind to beat Waukee in rematchBy MARK PAWLAK
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Through five first-half possessions Marshalltown had no points on the board.
To achieve the first state playoff win in program history the Bobcats were going to have to get things shifted in gear after halftime.
They shifted into overdrive and it was just enough.
Chanse Creekmur threw for three touchdowns after halftime and rushed for another as Marshalltown rallied for a 31-26 victory over Waukee Monday in the first round of the Class 4A state playoffs at Leonard Cole Field.
"Our kids weren't going to lay down and we knew we had a lot of fight left in us," said Marshalltown head coach Dave Holdiman. "I told Chanse at halftime we're going to score four touchdowns in the second half. It turned out to be that and a field goal to boot, and we needed every bit."
The fourth-ranked Bobcats (11-0) advance to Friday's quarterfinals against fifth-ranked Ankeny (10-1) at Leonard Cole Field. Since the state playoffs started in 1972, MHS had made the playoffs four previous times and had never won a game.
"This is just another step in our journey," Creekmur said. "We're pretty excited, but we're not satisfied."
Waukee (7-4), which the Bobcats defeated 44-22 in Week 8, controlled the ball for an 83-yard drive taking over six minutes off the clock to take the lead into halftime. Quarterback Chad Owens scored on a 6-yard touchdown run with 17 seconds remaining in the half, but the Warriors missed the extra point.
Waukee had the ball first in the second half, and Owens broke away for a 57-yard touchdown run in the opening minute of the third quarter. The Warriors again failed on the extra point and led 12-0 - the largest deficit of the year for MHS.
Penalties took away touchdowns for the Bobcats on two occasions on the ensuing drive, but Marshalltown persevered with Creekmur hitting Jarred Carlson for a 7-yard touchdown pass to slash the deficit to 12-7.
The touchdown catch for Carlson was his 18th of the year to set a new Class 4A single-season record. Carlson also broke the 4A single-season receiving mark during the night (he now has 1,280 yards) as he caught 10 passes for 165 yards.
The Bobcat defense stuffed Waukee three-and-out on the next series and the MHS offense kicked it up another gear.
Creekmur bought some extra time to pass and connected with Nick Thimesch for a 34-yard touchdown pass at the 5:09 mark of the third quarter.
"I used my feet a little bit more (in the second half) and got myself outside of the pocket and made things happen with my feet," Creekmur said.
An interception by Chris Allen returned the ball to Marshalltown and the Bobcats rolled down the field. Creekmur found Carlson for a 37-yard catch and then Mark Duncan for 32 yards. Creekmur's 1-yard touchdown run gave MHS a 21-12 lead.
Owens led Waukee on a touchdown drive to get back within 21-19, but Marshalltown had an answer with Duncan catching a 4-yard touchdown pass from Creekmur.
Josh Illum kicked a 29-yard field goal for the Bobcats for a 12-point advantage, yet the Bobcats weren't out of the woods.
The elusive Owens again scored on a long run - 72 yards - with 2:38 left. Marshalltown punted with one minute to go and the Warriors had one last chance that ended with a fumble at its own 45 as the buzzer sounded.
"We dialed it up in the second half and had a big half," Holdiman said. "It turned out we needed every bit of it. Hats off to Waukee, they are a very fine football team. Chad Owens is an amazing ballplayer back there, if there's anybody that is faster than he is, I don't want to see any part of him."
Creekmur finished the night 23-for-34 passing for 316 yards and three touchdowns. He moved over the 5,000-yard mark for his career and joined a list of only 16 at the start of the season in Iowa high school history that have done so. Creekmur added 66 yards rushing.
"He had a tremendous second half," Holdiman said. "He kept plays alive with his feet, which was really important, and was able to scan the field and make the throws to hit guys. It was just a scramble routine, guys start changing their routes and he did a great job of finding those guys."
Thimesch had five catches for 58 yards and Duncan three grabs for 43 yards. Austin Ruddick rushed 19 times for 93 yards and had four receptions for 46 yards.
Owens ended with 243 rushing yards on 21 carries with three scores. He was 9-for-22 passing for 122 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
Dalton Alexander had 7.5 tackles to lead the Bobcat defense. Kyle Carnahan and Jon Vance finished with five tackles apiece.
Ankeny defeated Mason City 46-7 in the substate round and downed Johnston Monday 22-3.
The Marshalltown-Ankeny winner moves on to face the winner of Dowling Catholic (11-0) against Urbandale (9-2) Nov. 13 at the UNI-Dome.
