Photo by Patrick Coons: CJ Hisler of Webster City runs the ball against Iowa City Liberty on Friday in the 3A playoffs.

IOWA CITY — Webster City kept pace with fourth-ranked Iowa City Liberty until a crucial drive to start the fourth quarter in Friday night’s Class 4A opening round contest.

After a 7-7 first half, the Lynx (6-4 overall) couldn’t hold off the Lightning (9-1) in a 24-14 postseason setback.

Liberty will now host Carlisle on Friday in the quarterfinal round.

Clinging to a three-point advantage, Liberty went on a six-plus minute drive that spanned 97 yards, capped off by a one-yard touchdown punch from Trey Gregoire to put the Lightning up by the final margin.

Webster City junior star Jaxon Cherry started the scoring in the first quarter, racing into the end zone from three yards out.

Liberty quarterback Graham Beckman ended the first quarter with a 29-yard strike to Wyatt Williams, which knotted the score all the way through halftime.

Cherry finished the first half with 12 carries for 93 yards, while senior CJ Hisler added 58 on the ground. The Lynx ran for 173 yards in the first half alone.

Liberty started the second half with Beckman’s second TD pass of the game on a 45-yard strike to Lucas Meyer. The Lightning then built a 17-7 lead on a 29-yard field goal from Hayden Saul, his fourth of the year.

Webster City quickly struck back with a short drive highlighted by two long runs. Hisler put the Lynx in prime position with a 46-yard burst that set up a Cherry 17-yard plunge.

Webster City had 327 yards of total offense, including 267 on the ground.

Dylan Burnette-Bingham led the defense with eight tackles. Cherry (6.5), Hisler (six) and McKinney (five) were the other main defensive contributors.

Both Hisler (122) and Cherry (119) finished with over 100 yards on the ground. Senior Ty McKinney rushed for 26 yards.

Beckman threw for 255 yards and two touchdowns. He has now thrown for 2,382 yards and 29 TDs for Liberty, one of the largest 4A schools compared to Webster City being among the smallest.

Cherry’s two touchdowns makes him the school’s single-season rushing TD leader with 31.

Cherry will return for his senior season as the school’s fifth-leading career rusher. The junior passed Jared Smith (2,734) on the list with 2,783. Fourth on the list is Kevin Kennedy (1968-70) with 3,207.

Cherry is second on the school all-time list with 51 TDs, just four behind leader Gavin Dinsdale (55).

Hisler finishes his career with 2,470 yards, which puts him 10th on the all-time rushing charts. He had 15 touchdowns on 303 carries in his decorated three-year career.

McKinney ends his career with 1,199 yards rushing and 15 scores on 184 carries. He threw for 966 yards passing and 13 touchdowns.

Along with Hisler, McKinney and Burnette-Bingham, four-year regular Connor Hanson, Adan Perez, Austin Mason, Skyler Scott, Jordan Vankham, Max Kumm and Brendyn Carlsen will graduate.

Gavin Benton, the son of Fort Dodge Senior High graduate Mark Benton, plays linebacker for the Lightning. He had 21 tackles heading into the postseason to go along with four tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.