DAVENPORT — Davenport North quarterback Kazimir Rebarcak ran for a touchdown and threw for two more to help the host Wildcats improve to 3-0 with a 28-14 triumph over the Marshalltown football team on Friday night.
The Bobcats dropped to 0-3 on the season with the loss despite a spirited fourth-quarter finish. Marshalltown trailed 28-0 before scoring twice in the game’s final four and a half minutes.
“I think the thing I liked the most is the fight they showed,” said MHS head coach Adam Goodvin. “We just can’t be inconsistent with that though. I challenged the guys here at the end of the game, you’ve gotta continue fighting for your buddies, your best friend.
“You’ve gotta have that warrior attitude and just get after it, and it can’t be whenever you want. That light switch has gotta be on at all times. When you’re in between those white lines, you’re not taking a break.”
The Bobcats struggled to move the ball in the first half but only trailed 7-0 at the intermission. Davenport North lost a potential touchdown when running back Mason Bogan fumbled on his way into the end zone on a hit by Ethan Gorsuch, and Sam Greazel recovered to give the ball back to Marshalltown with 15 seconds left in the half.
“I think it was more of a bend-but-don’t-break type of attitude the they had,” Goodvin said of his defense. “We’re very proud of their effort, only giving up seven points was a solid job. We felt good coming out of the half.”
MHS got the ball to start the third quarter but couldn’t move it, and the Wildcats capitalized shortly thereafter. A four-play, 57-yard drive was capped by Derrick Pena’s 37-yard touchdown run on third-and-2, sending Davenport North in front 14-0.
The Wildcats found the end zone on each of their next two possessions, too, to put the game away. Rebarcak connected with Cunell Burrage for an 82-yard touchdown bomb, and he hooked up with DeAndre Smith for a 4-yard scoring strike early in the fourth quarter.
Marshalltown’s best possession of the game ensued as the Bobcats embarked on a 13-play, 73-yard drive that consumed 5 minutes, 45 seconds, and ended with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Jacob Hayes to Zane Moore.
Hayes ran over a Wildcat defender on his way to a 15-yard touchdown run with 18 seconds left in the game.
The Bobcats finished with 216 yards of total offense on 48 plays, getting 4.5 yards per play, but Davenport North got a lot more. The Wildcats totaled 51 plays for 387 yards, averaging 7.59 yards per attempt.
Marshalltown was led by running back Tyler Englund with 15 carries for 65 yards. Davis Ragland got 48 yards on nine carries, and Hayes added 14 yards rushing with a touchdown.
Hayes finished 6-for-13 passing for 71 yards, all of which came in the second half. Moore and Gorsuch both had two catches for 28 yards and Kyle Smith had two grabs for 15 yards.
“There’s a learning curve to this,” Goodvin said of his team’s new offensive scheme. “We’re going to get there. I know it, the kids know it, but I think if they got that baseline of that expectation, that swagger that they’re gonna go out and execute, make plays and want the football, things are going to be good.”
The Wildcats were led by Rebarcak, who was 11-for-15 passing for 175 yards and two scores. Bogan rushed 25 times for 106 yards, while Pena had five carries for 63 yards and a TD. Rebarcak added 43 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Marshalltown remains on the road for the second week in a row with next Friday’s 7:30 p.m. game against Newton at H.A. Lynn Stadium.