By: Dana Becker
Messenger Sports Staff
CEDAR FALLS — The Iowa Central football team will be part of several firsts here on Sunday, December 4.
The 14th-ranked Tritons will welcome No. 10 Trinity Valley for the Game One Bowl.
Kickoff is set for noon from the UNI-Dome.
Previously, the postseason bowl game was called The Graphic Edge Bowl. This will be the first time in several years it is under a new title, and this will also mark the first appearance for the Texas school in Iowa's oldest bowl game, which dates back to 1978.
Iowa Central (6-4 overall) has had plenty of success as of late in the postseason, winning fourth consecutive times. Head coach Jesse Montalto has a streak of eight straight bowl wins, with the first four coming while head coach at Ellsworth.
"This is a tremendous opportunity for our kids and our program," Montalto said. "We get another week of practice time with the freshmen and the others kid another opportunity to put more film out there as they look to transfer.
"We've also really had a great deal of success in bowl games and I think that is a strong way to both close out the current season and push you into the next one."
The Tritons feature one of the more prolific attacks in the country, averaging an NJCAA-leading 478.2 yards of offense per game. They are second at 39.5 points per game, trailing only top-ranked Hutchinson.
Iowa Central has used a three-headed attack to quarterback the offense, led by all-conference selection Zach Marker, who has thrown for 1,162 yards and 20 touchdowns with just five interceptions.
Justin Silverstein has 1,160 yards and 15 scores, while Omarion Bartlett has 495 and four. Desna Washington is the top target for all three, as the reigning conference offensive player of the year ranks among the national leaders with 49 receptions for 812 yards and nine TDs.
Cal Weidemann has 10 touchdown catches among his 37 receptions and 476 yards, while George Sims has caught five TDs. Travis Isaac, Sims, Izaiah Haslett and Jamrien Wheeler all have at least 20 catches and a touchdown.
Jadon Washington leads the ground unit with 459 yards and three TDs, with Marker and Walter Wilbon adding 341 each.
Trinity Valley (8-2), champions of the Southwest Junior Football Conference, are led by Darion Peace, who has over 2,100 yards and 18 touchdowns. Trent Hudson has caught 44 passes for 641 with six scores, while Quincy Thompson has a team-high 820 yards rushing and five trips to the end zone.
"We know this is going to be another challenge," Montalto said. "We have faced some incredible teams over the years here and we are ready for the next one."
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https://www.messengernews.net/sports/local-sports/2022/11/tritons-headed-to-uni-dome/