Raiders rally for district title

CORNING — They didn’t have the lead until 11:52 remained in the game, but the Mount Ayr Raiders won their second consecutive district championship with a 41-33 victory over Southwest Valley Friday night.

Class A District 7 was a league of playmaking quarterbacks this season, and both Raider junior Jaixen Frost and Southwest Valley senior Brendan Knapp were involved in several momentum-changing plays throughout Friday’s battle for the championship.

Knapp had thrown for only 249 yards all season, with no touchdown passes, before connecting on three scoring strikes in the first half Friday night. On the receiving end of touchdown passes from Knapp while the Timberwolves built a 21-12 lead were Joey Oathoudt (12 yards), Isaac Currin (45 yards) and Owen Wilkinson (61 yards).

Southwest Valley had not lost since week one, building its success almost exclusively on the ground with 1,563 yards rushing in seven games.

“We showed tonight that we can throw the ball,” Southwest Valley coach Anthony Donahoo said. “We really didn’t have to when we were averaging 6.6 yards per carry. But, we knew tonight would be different.”

“I kind of underestimated Mr. Knapp’s ability to throw the football,” said Mount Ayr coach Ryan Victor. “He throws a really good ball. Their first three scores were huge pass plays. This is the league of quarterbacks in our district.”

Knapp also contributed four kickoff returns for a total of 80 yards.

Mount Ayr’s Frost, meanwhile, drove the Raiders’ comeback with the aid of some big plays from Braydon Pierson.

After Southwest Valley appeared to be taking its 21-12 lead into halftime, the Raiders had an answer.

A pass completion with a lateral to Austin Cole set up the Raiders inside the Timberwolves 35 yards line. On the final play of the half, Frost connected with Pierson for a 34-yard touchdown and Frost kicked the extra point to close the gap to 21-19 at intermission.

“I’m not a trick play guy, but we hit on a hook-and-ladder, and then Braydon and Jaixen on that touchdown pass, that’s just two great individual efforts,” Victor said. “Jaixen scrambled, threw behind and across his body into the middle of the field, and Braydon makes the catch and scores.”

Pierson also had an interception that set up his 12-yard TD reception earlier in the half. He then answered Southwest Valley’s touchdown early in the third quarter with an 86-yard kickoff return to keep it close at 27-25.

“They kept clawing back with so much resiliency,” Donahoo said.

Pierson also averaged 43.0 yards on four punts for the Raiders.

Mount Ayr ran only one play from scrimmage in the third quarter as Southwest Valley’s ground attack burned most of the period that ended shortly after Pierson’s kick return.

Mount Ayr outscored Southwest Valley 16-6 in the fourth quarter to take control of the game.

The big momentum changer occurred early in the fourth as a punt snap sailed too high for Currin, Southwest Valley’s punter. Mount Ayr’s Jaydon Knight scooped it up and scored a touchdown to secure the Raiders’ first lead. Frost, under pressure on the two-point conversion play, improvised and flipped a pass to Drew Ehlen for a 33-27 lead.

With defensive coordinator Daniel Showalter out with COVID-19, the Raider defense directed by Lucas Smith got a stop and the Raiders went on their own clock-eating drive that ended on a pitchout to Cole for a 14-yard touchdown. That put the Raiders in front 41-27 with 5:56 to play.

But, on this night of comebacks, Southwest Valley answered with a drive that took only 1:44 as Cade Myers scored his second rushing touchdown. Knight blocked the extra point kick, leaving the Timberwolves trailing by eight points (41-33) with 4:12 left.

The Raiders ran off the rest of the clock, including another effective pitchout from Frost to Cole for a first down on fourth-and-five.

“Really proud of our guys,” Victor said. “We talked about winning the second half. That’s a tough, ball control football game we played tonight and our guys fought through it.”

Both teams end the regular season at 6-2 with 5-1 district marks, with the Raiders claiming the title on the basis of head-to-head result. Earlham and AHSTW claimed the other two playoff spots from District 7, just squeezing out Riverside as Earlham topped Riverside Friday, and AHSTW rallied late to get past St. Albert.

Like Victor, Donahoo said Friday’s championship matchup was well-played by both squads and he remains optimistic about the road ahead.

“Overall I’m proud of the boys for battling and getting up in this game,” Donahoo said. “Give Mount Ayr credit. We’ll be excited when we see them again in the playoffs.”

Playoff opener

Corning, Villisca and the current combined Southwest Valley program have never won a playoff game, so Friday’s home game against 4-4 Ogden could be history in the making. (The 1971 Corning state championship was by vote, prior to the Iowa High School Athletic Association instituting a playoff system.) The Timberwolves are 0-2 in the playoffs under Donahoo.

“To be 6-2 and hosting a playoff game is a great accomplishment by our guys,” Donahoo said.

Mount Ayr, meanwhile, will host 3-5 Madrid in its Class A playoff opener Friday. Both game times are 7 p.m.

Mount Ayr 41, Southwest Valley 33

First quarter

SWV — Joey Oathoudt 12 pass from Brendan Knapp (kick failed), 3:57

MA — Adler Shay 1 run (kick blocked), 0:00

Second quarter

SWV — Isaac Currin 45 pass from Knapp (Cade Myers run), 9:23

MA — Braydon Pierson 12 pass from Jaixen Frost (pass failed), 0:50

SWV — Owen Wilkinson 61 pass from Knapp (Evan Timmerman kick), 0:32

MA — Pierson 34 pass from Frost (Frost kick), 0:00

Third quarter

SWV — Case Myers 8 run (kick blocked), 2:20

MA — Pierson 86 kick return (run failed), 2:06

Fourth quarter

MA — Jaydon Knight 3 fumble return (Drew Ehlen pass from Frost), 11:52

MA — Austin Cole 14 run (Frost run), 5:56

SWV — Myers 1 run (kick blocked), 4:12

Passing — MA: Jaixen Frost 8-17-0 for 120 yards, 2 TD. SWV: Brendan Knapp 4-8-1 for 139 yards, 3 TD.

Rushing — MA: Frost 8-54; Austin Cole 9-42, 1 TD; Adler Shay 10-39, 1 TD; Jaydon Knight 2-0. SWV: B. Knapp 23-94; Cade Myers 15-65, 2 TD; Isaac Currin 3-10; Evan Timmerman 2-7.

Receiving — MA: Braydon Pierson 3-55, 2 TD; Cole 1-35; Shay 2-16; Knight 2-14. SWV: Owen Wilkinson 1-62, 1 TD; Currin 1-45, 1 TD; Marshall Knapp 1-20; Joey Outhoudt 1-12, 1 TD.

Tackles (solo) — Shay 8.0 (6); Knight 8.0 (6); Tyler Martin 6.0 (5); Cole 5.5 (4); Hunter Case 4.5 (3); Will Strange 4.0 (3); Matt Larson 4.0 (2); Frost 3.0 (2); Cody Larson 3.0 (2). SWV: Collin Jacobs 6.0 (3); B. Knapp 5.0 (4); Myers 4.5 (1); Blake Thomas 4.5 (3); Robbie Barnes 4.5 (3); Marshall Knapp 3.5 (3).

Sacks — MA: M. Larson 1.0.

Interceptions — MA: Pierson 1. SWV: Marshall Knappl 1.