For the third consecutive season, the Iowa Central football team claimed the Graphic Edge Bowl, holding off New Mexico Military here Saturday inside Dodger Stadium, 23-21.
Byron Jarrett led an 18-play scoring drive that chewed up much of the fourth quarter and Savion Johnson recovered an onside kick attempt by the Broncos to preserve the win for the Tritons.
Jarrett, voted the offensive MVP of the game from Iowa Central, threw for 105 yards, ran for 60 and had both a passing and rushing touchdown. Daylen Boddie ran for 107 yards and a score, and Jayce Levy caught a TD pass.
"It feels amazing," Jarrett said. "A year ago, I was thinking about my future outside of football, so to be standing here at this moment right now, it's just amazing."
The win was the third straight for the No. 10 Tritons (6-3 overall) to conclude the spring season, and also marked the seventh bowl victory in a row for head coach Jesse Montalto.
"I was worried coming in to be honest," Montalto said. "Normally, we have more time to prepare for this game. Factor in not knowing how the team would be motivated in terms of playing at home. But our kids love to battle and are competitive, and that really showed - especially in the fourth."
Leading 17-14 after Jarrett hit Levy on a 3-yard touchdown pass to begin the final quarter, the offense went to work behind their leader.
A former Des Moines Hoover standout, Jarrett carried the ball nine times himself on the 18-play drive, with the final rush resulting in a leap into the end zone.
"He wanted the ball in his hands," Montalto said. "We kept asking him if he needed a break, but that's the kind of competitor Byron is. He wasn't going to be denied."
New Mexico Military, ranked ninth, made it interesting when Diego Pavia hit Malik Phillips with just 32 seconds left on a 25-yard scoring strike. The Broncos, though, were unable to recover the onside kick attempt.
Pavia threw for 190 yards and had both a rushing and passing score, Ty Thompson ran for 67 yards to earn offensive MVP honors and Phillips had six receptions for 130 yards.
In the first half, the Triton defense shined. Bilhal Kone had two interceptions and EJ Perry another. Kone was named defensive MVP from Iowa Central.
The Tritons shut New Mexico Military out, allowing just 48 yards in the second quarter. Tristin Waugh had two sacks with both Garret Ollendieck and Deonte Bryant adding one each.
New Mexico Military entered the game averaging over 42 points per contest.
"Our defense was just incredible," Montalto said. "And finally there in the fourth, our offense stepped up and had the best drive they have had of the year."
-By Dana Becker