The Iowa Central football team relied on big plays from key players to record a 27-21 victory over Ellsworth here Saturday afternoon.
In their regular season finale, the 10th-ranked Tritons were forced to rally three times to get past the Panthers on a cold and fridge day inside Dodger Stadium.
Byron Jarrett ran for three 1-yard touchdowns, including the game-winner midway through the fourth, Major Willams had a kickoff return for a score and Tristin Waugh recorded three sacks on defense.
"We got some big plays when we needed them," Iowa Central head coach Jesse Montalto said. "That was the first time in a long time that I've had to really get after them at halftime. For whatever reason, we did not come out ready. And that's on me as the head coach.
"Ellsworth played this like it was their Super Bowl. We didn't answer that intensity and it nearly cost us."
Jarrett threw for 171 yards and ran for 98 with the three TDs while Daylen Boddie added 72 yards rushing and 47 yards receiving on five receptions. Desna Washington had 64 yards receiving and Cal Weidemann 44 on five catches.
For the Panthers, Josh Bauer threw for 303 yards and two touchdowns, while the Ellsworth special teams recovered a loose ball on a blocked field goal for the other score.
"We were able to pull out the win and that's important," Montalto said. "But we have to be better in all aspects of the game. We can't play like that and expect to win very often."
Earlier this year, the Tritons (8-2 overall, 2-2 in ICCAC) jumped all over Ellsworth in Iowa Falls, 66-17. They have scored at least 40 points six times this season, but were unable to finish off several drives this time.
The Panthers scored first, finishing off a 12-play, 95-yard drive when Bauer hit JJ Mucha-Owens early in the second quarter. Iowa Central answered back with a scoring drive to tie it up when Jarrett hit paydirt.
Ellsworth's second score came after a blocked field goal attempt. As the ball bounced into the air, it struck a Triton player and was recovered by Colton Willis in the end zone, giving the Panthers a 14-7 halftime lead.
With under a minute to go in the third, Jarrett finished off an 11-play drive with his second score. Ellsworth answered right back as Bauer hit Tate Lahr down the middle of the field for an 80-yard touchdown.
On the ensuing kickoff, Williams took a pitch and showed off his speed by darting for six to tie it at 21-all.
The Tritons will await their postseason destination, which will likely land them a spot in Cedar Falls and the UNI-Dome on Sunday, December 5.
-By Dana Becker