If Mount Ayr was counting on its team speed to contain St. Albert, then the Raiders dreams of a trip to the dome were shattered by Jeremy Schieffer's 57-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

It was only the second touchdown of the game for the Falcons, who went on to a 35-0 win in Monday night's Class 1A state quarterfinal game at Al Leber Field, but Schieffer's effortless acceleration through the Mt. Ayr defense left the visiting fans and players stunned.

"They did have good speed and they did a great job in stopping our sweeps," said Falcon coach Jim Duggan. "We started trying the inside run and it worked well."

Mt. Ayr only trailed by one score and had forced the Falcons to a third-and-18 play when Schieffer broke up the middle on a draw play.

Schieffer ran between the linebackers and then angled for the sidelines, and not even the fleet footed Raiders defensive backs could lay a hand on him.

"My line opened big holes for me," said Schieffer. "I got some good downfield blocks and my legs did the rest."

It was the first of two touchdowns for the Falcon tailback, who raced for 160 yards in the first half alone.

Douglas Moran gave the Falcons the lead on his four-yard plunge after Nolan Batten set the table with passes to Cameron Tucker, Matt Waters and Marc Baumert.

"Some of the time we knew what they were going to do," said Raider coach Delwyn Showalter. "We just couldn't stop them."

On offense, it was the same story for the Raiders.

Brian Inloes completed a 40-yard pass to Tyler Hosfield on the first offensive play of the gamed for Mt. Ayr, but it was all downhill after that.

"We had three or four plays break open the way we wanted them," said Showalter. "But instead of going for a score, we would only get 10 yards or so because of their speed."

Batten scored from two yards out to make the lead 21, and then C.J. Gradoville picked off a pass to set of Schieffer's 21-yard scamper to make the halftime score 28-0.

"We tried a little of everything early and then went with what worked," said Duggan. "I am lucky to be surrounded by a hard working coaching staff who helps make the right calls."

Mount Ayr fumbled the ball away immediately after taking the second half kickoff and Batten tacked on the final score on an eight-yard run.

The continuous clock brought a rapid conclusion to the game and as the final seconds ticked off the Falcon student body treated its visitors to a chant of "over rated."

"I don't think we are over rated, I just think we ran into a team way better than us," said Showalter. "If the champions aren't wearing gold and green when this is all over with, I don't want anything to do with the team that beats them."

For the Falcons it's a fourth consecutive trip the final four and the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.

"This senior class was working on a fourth trip to the dome," said Schieffer. "Who wants to be the senior class that breaks that streak?"

The Raiders wrap up the season 10-1.

"We are one of the eight best teams in the state," said Showalter. "This isn't the way we wanted it to end, but we had a great season."

The Falcons match up with unbeaten, second-ranked Lake City Southern Cal in the semifinals.

"We don't want to be one-and-done in the dome," said Duggan. "Our luck has held up so far, so maybe we can go up to Cedar Falls and keep winning."

Mount Ayr 0 0 0 0 - 0

St. Albert 7 21 7 0 - 28

Records: Mount Ayr (10-1), St. Albert (9-2)

Ratings: State: Mount Ayr 5th (1A); SWI: St. Albert 4th (A-1A-2A).

Matt Prieto - Daily Nonpareil - 11.07.06