The Iowa Central football team experienced all the emotions of their up-and-down season in one game here Saturday inside Dodger Stadium.

After spotting Independence a 21-0 lead, the Tritons rallied back, only to come up short, 31-20.

Iowa Central (5-5 overall) started the year strong, winning three of its first four including a 28-26 victory over Iowa Western. Three consecutive road games, though, left them at 3-3 to begin October.

They dropped a game below the .500 mark with a loss to Garden City, but bounced back away from home with wins over Dodge City and Ellsworth, the latter of which clinched the ICCAC title.

Demarcus Irons hit Tanarious Achan on a pair of third quarter touchdown passes, as the Tritons took advantage of five Independence turnovers. Irons found Achan on a 12-yard TD strike for the first score and from four yards out on the second.

Early in the fourth, Irons powered his way to the end zone from two yards out, but the extra-point missed and the Pirates remained ahead, 21-20.

Irons finished the day 16-for-29 passing for 182 yards, but was also sacked eight times.

Achan had five receptions to lead the team for 48 yards, with Terrell Carey, Jatoviay Hill and Rashad Witty all catching three passes each.

The Iowa Central defense recovered four fumbles and picked off a pass, as Jarran Barber, EJ Brown, Rocky Schoenfelder and Marquis Burks picked up loose balls. Stanley Cross had the interception, as Schoenfelder, Elijah Freking and Kalen Burt registered sacks.

Next action for the Tritons will be their final road game of the season, as they head to Fort Scott. Iowa Central closes out the year with Hutchinson back here on Nov. 9 before playing in the Graphic Edge Bowl on Dec. 8 in Cedar Falls.