Iowa-bound quarterback A.J. Derby and fellow senior Ellis Jordan combined for four touchdowns and 244 of City High’s 304 rushing yards. Creekmur, who entered the game with a state-leading 3,011 passing yards and 30 touchdowns, ran for 67 yards and threw for 274 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He had a hand in all but 40 of the Bobcats’ 381 yards of total offense.
It was the Little Hawks’ fourth state title in six trips to the championship game. Conversely, Marshalltown had played in only four playoff games in its entire history prior to this season.
Iowa football: Heavy favorites Harlan and Solon hold serve in Class 3A, 2A
By even reaching the state finals after starting the year with a 3-3 record, Pella overcame some long odds. But even the most daring riverboat gambler probably would have passed on taking the Little Dutch against perennial powerhouse Harlan in the Class 3A title game – and with good reason. The Cyclones raced to a 35-0 third-quarter lead then coasted to a 35-14 victory, earning their state-record 12th state championship.
Iowa recruit Matt Hoch led Harlan with 111 rushing yards on just 10 carries and was a key part of a defense that forced Pella to punt on its first seven possessions.
In equally unsurprising fashion, top-ranked Solon hammered Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley, 35-7, to capture its third consecutive 2A championship. Iowa recruit James Morris ran 31 times for 223 yards and four touchdowns to pace the Spartans, who finished the year with a 41-game winning streak. For the season, Morris had 2,256 yards on 192 carries (11.7 average) and 40 touchdowns.
Iowa football: Champions also crowned in 1A, A and 8-man
Council Bluffs St. Albert rolled to its fourth state championship in six seasons with a 35-0 shutout of South Winneshiek in the Class 1A final. All-state quarterback Jake Waters led the Falcons with 77 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
The only championship game that wasn’t decided by 19 or more points was in Class A, where Southern Cal beat Mason City Newman, 28-27, in overtime for its second straight title. The outcome was decided when senior quarterback Greg Meyer scored a two-point conversion to end the game.
Armstrong-Ringstead’s Tyler Tonderum became the state’s all-time leading rusher in 8-man football earlier this season. He ended his senior campaign by running for 146 yards and three touchdowns as the Mustangs upset top-ranked Lenox in the state championship game, 49-30.
Nebraska football: Marsh, Millard South roll to Class A title; Aurora repeats in Class B
Some who tuned in to watch the Class A state championship game on NET Television were actually anticipating an episode of the Bronson Marsh Show. Their expectations were realized when Marsh, a senior quarterback and defensive back, ran for 151 yards and a touchdown and intercepted a pass as top-ranked Millard South blew out Millard West, 45-17, at Memorial Stadium for its first state championship since 1995.
Marsh also threw for 101 yards – just enough to surpass former Nebraska Cornhusker Scott Frost as the state’s all-time leading passer in 11-man football with 6,826 career yards.
The Patriots, who outscored opponents 614-198, were the fourth Class A team since 2000 to finish a season unbeaten. It was the fifth time since 2001 a team from the Millard school district has captured the Class A title.
In the Class B final, junior quarterback Tyson Broekemeier passed for 172 yards and ran for 135 yards with three touchdowns to lead top-ranked Aurora past Omaha Skutt, 34-21, for its second straight state championship. Skutt led 21-13 at halftime but was victimized by five turnovers while Aurora committed zero.
Nebraska football: Champions also crowned in Classes C and D
Hastings St. Cecilia piled up more than 300 rushing yards and limited Norfolk Catholic to less than 100 yards on the ground in its 26-18 victory for the Class C-1 championship. The Bluehawks were led by senior Dalton Sealy, who ran for 106 yards and two touchdowns in the game and totaled 1,891 yards and 32 scores for the season.
Ponca won its first state championship with a 14-13 overtime win against Hartington Cedar Catholic (10-3) in the Class C-2 final. The Indians stopped a Cedar Catholic two-point conversion attempt on the game’s final play to secure the victory.
Bringing a state championship trophy home from Lincoln is becoming routine for Howells, which flattened Giltner, 68-28, for its eighth Class D-1 state championship in the last 10 seasons. Senior Clint Belina rumbled for 332 rushing yards and six touchdowns while the Bobcats’ defense made life miserable for all-time, all-class state passing king Nate Most and the Giltner offense. Most threw for just 164 yards in the game and the Hornets were held 24 points below their season average.
Back-to-back runner-up finishes had Humphrey St. Francis particularly hungry for a state title. The urge was satisfied when the Flyers blitzed Hayes Center, 34-0, in the Class D-2 championship game. Senior running back Matt Korus ran for 207 yards and scored all five touchdowns for St. Francis, which took home the top prize for the first time since winning back-to-back crowns in 1995-96.
Jamie DeMoney has covered high school sports and recruiting for more than 15 years. He is editor and founder of PrepNation.com. You can reach him at PrepNation@aol.com.
