Top ranked Iowa City High and third rated Marshalltown collide on Friday night in Cedar Falls for the state 4A championship. This is the sixth trip to the championship game for the Little Hawks who are led by standout quarterback A.J. Derby. Iowa City High Coach Dan Sabers says Derby is a very humble and confident player who has played several different positions throughout the year.
Sabers says Marshalltown is a team with great talent and chemistry. He says they are a bunch of guys who care for and believe in each other and that is the key ingredient. Sabers says Marshalltown quarterback Chanse Creekmur has the ability to dominate a game. He says he’s been impressed with the way Creekmur sees the running lanes and adapts very well when he takes off. And Sabers says Creekmur is still ready to thrown when he takes off.
Marshalltown is making its first appearance in the championship game. Marshalltown coach Dave Holdiman says they knew they had a good group of seniors coming back and many played a lot last year and they built around them. He says to think they would be 13-0 and playing in the championship game though was a stretch.
Holdiman says Creekmur has had an outstanding year at quarterback and has been able to distribute the ball well. Holdiman says the Bobcats would love to bring the title home as they have taken it upon themselves to try and win it for the city. he says their slogan is “One town, one team, one dream.”
In Saturday’s 1A championship contest 10th ranked South Winneshiek will look to topple another highly rated foe when the Warriors take on top rated Council Bluffs St. Albert. South Winneshiek has already knocked off defending champ Emmetsburg and second rated West Branch enroute to the title game.
South Winneshiek coach Jason Ohrt says St. Albert has the tradition and they don’t let anything bother them. He says it has been a thrilling playoff run with great community support.
Ohrt says the Falcons present a tough challenge and they will have to claw and scratch to win, and he says that’s the way it should be for the state title.
Contributed by Elwin Huffman, KOEL, Oelwein, Darin Svenson KDEC, Decorah