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GOING IN STYLE

Tritons win top-10 Graphic Edge Bowl clash

Photo by Paul DeCoursey: Iowa Central quarterback Byron Jarrett scrambles against New Mexico Military on Saturday in the Graphic Edge Bowl inside Dodger Stadium. Jarrett was named the game’s offensive MVP.

When the Iowa Central football team needed to move the ball, they left it in the hands of Byron Jarrett.

And the quarterback delivered in a big way on Saturday.

The Tritons scored a third consecutive win in the Graphic Edge Bowl, besting No. 9 New Mexico Military, 23-21, at Dodger Stadium.

Jarrett, named the offensive MVP for Iowa Central, carried the ball nine times and completed two passes during an 18-play drive in the fourth that gave the 10th-ranked Tritons a 23-14 lead. The former Des Moines Hoover standout finished with 105 yards passing and 60 yards rushing, including a 3-yard TD pass to Jayce Levy and a 2-yard run on fourth-down to finish the lengthy, time-consuming series.

“I was worried coming in to be honest,” Iowa Central head coach Jesse 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.”

For Montalto, it was his seventh straight postseason win overall dating back to a four-year run at Ellsworth. He has led Iowa Central to victories in bowls each of his three seasons.

Daylen Boddie ran for a career-high 107 yards and a score with Levy finishing with 58 yards receiving.

On defense, Bihal Kone, the MVP, picked off two passes and EJ Perry had a third interception. Tristin Waugh recorded two sacks with Garret Ollendieck and Deonte Bryant getting one each against a Bronco offense that came in averaging over 42 points per contest.

Diego Pavia provided late-game dramatics when he hit Malik Phillips on a fourth-down touchdown pass with 32 seconds left. Savion Johnson, though, recovered the onside kick to secure the win for Iowa Central.

Pavia threw for 190 yards, Phillips had six receptions for 130 yards and Ty Thompson ran for 67 yards.

“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.”

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing – Iowa Central: Daylen Boddie 27-107, Byron Jarrett 19-60, Isaac Cechota 2-7, Alex Gully 1-3, Team 1-(minus-2). New Mexico Military: Ty Thompson 15-67, Jordan Bolden 10-38, Dominic Nava 4-30, Diego Pavia 11-14.

Passing – Iowa Central: Byron Jarrett 9-21-0-105, Zach Marker 0-0-0-0. New Mexico Military: Diego Pavia 15-25-3-190.

Receiving – Iowa Central Jayce Levy 2-58, Jalen Harris 1-12, Isaac Cechota 1-12, Madison Ridgeway 3-11, Desna Washington 1-7, Daylen Boddie 1-5. New Mexico Military: Malik Phillips 6-130, Dominic Nava 1-22, Jaylin Smith 3-17, Aidan Trujillo 1-10, Ty Thompson 2-7, Sixten Dragan 1-7, Jordan Bolden 1-2.

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