3 takeaways from Dowling Catholic's win over Ankeny Centennial in Iowa high school football playoffs

3 takeaways from Dowling Catholic’s win over Ankeny Centennial in Iowa high school football playoffs

Posted by Admin November 9, 2024 Football

Just over a month ago when Ankeny Centennial and Dowling Catholic squared off, the squads played three overtimes before the Maroons were victorious.

While Friday’s Iowa high school football playoff quarterfinal matchup ended much earlier than the previous contest, the suspense remained the same. Dowling made back-to-back stops in the red zone to secure a 14-10 win over the Jaguars at Mediacom Stadium.

After a Sam Drexler touchdown catch put the Maroons in front late in the third quarter, Centennial drove into Dowling territory twice, including down to the half-yard line and inside the 20. Both times, the Maroons’ defense shut down fourth-down passes from Chase Kluver to secure a win.

“We’re Dowling Catholic football,” said senior defensive back Parker Pearson, who had the first fourth-down stop. “Our mindset is (we’re) the best in the state of Iowa, we work the hardest in the state. We’re going to go out and dominate every time we play.”

Here are three reasons the Maroons secured their first trip to the UNI-Dome since 2022.

Dowling’s defensive line was relentless

The Maroons (10-1) were never going to completely stop Centennial running back Braeden Jackson, who had a 77-yard touchdown run Friday, but Dowling’s guys up front were really good most of the night.

Time and time again, Dowling wrapped up Kluver behind the line of scrimmage. It was never one guy, with several Maroon defenders making huge plays in the backfield. While the penetration through the offensive line was constant, the player making the play wasn’t.

The best example of that came midway through the fourth quarter as Jackson took it to Dowling’s 1-yard line to make it first-and-goal. After two attempts running into the teeth of the Dowling defense were unsuccessful, a quarterback sneak for Kluver ended in a three-yard loss. On fourth-and-three, the Centennial offense was forced to go to the air, where Pearson tackled Caleb Reed short of the end zone.

“The play by Parker Pearson was nothing short of phenomenal,” said Dowling Catholic coach Tom Wilson. “He’s in man coverage. They go in motion. He’s outflanked, and he hustles over there to make the tackle. It’s a phenomenal play.”

On the Jaguars’ final drive with about two minutes remaining, a pair of runs set up third and medium distance as Dowling’s defense clogged running lanes. On the following third- and fourth-down attempts, pressure forced errant passes from Kluver that sealed the game for Dowling.

If you’re looking for a reason for Dowling’s win, the pressure from the big guys up front was the primary factor.

“They were the MVPs of tonight’s game,” Pearson said.

Despite offensive struggles in first half, Maroons stick to game plan

In the previous six games, Dowling scored 35 points or more. In the first half Friday, the Maroons scored zero points and ultimately ended with a season-low of just 14.

The Dowling offense accomplished two things, however. It limited Ankeny Centennial’s possessions on offense, keeping Jackson off the field. And It limited turnovers, outside of one interception, and put the defense in good spots.

Eventually, if you give Jackson enough opportunities, he’s going to make defenses pay. His long touchdown run in the third quarter was evidence of that. But by limiting his opportunities and playing efficient football, 14 points off touchdowns from Trey Wilson and Drexler were enough for the win.

Dowling is battle-tested ahead of UNI-Dome trip

Six of Dowling’s 11 games have been decided by one score. The Maroons twice needed overtime to finish games.

There isn’t a situation the Maroons haven’t found themselves in. Whether they are down multiple scores to Valley, going score-for-score with Centennial (8-3) or going defensive stop-for-defensive stop, the Maroons find ways to win. Even if their backs are against the wall.

Because of that, Dowling Catholic will be a tough out for anyone who faces them at the UNI-Dome. The Maroons will play Valley at 4 p.m. Friday in a state semifinal game.

“They’re just relentless,” Wilson said of his players. “They’ve continued to grow. We have a freshman and two sophomores on the offensive line. That’s not easy. They stayed the course, continued to grow and believed in each other and I think that’s the biggest part.”

Eli McKown covers high school sports and wrestling for the Des Moines Register. Contact him at Emckown@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @EMcKown23.