(Kevin White; Omaha World Herald) Some football programs thrive in the glare of the postseason spotlight, while others wilt.

These Council Bluffs St. Albert Falcons are thriving.

Three Iowa programs have qualified for the championship game in three of the past four years: St. Albert, West Des Moines Valley and Harlan Community. St. Albert (10-2) and Montezuma (9-3), a pair of unrated teams, will play for the Class 1-A crown at 3:30 p.m. Friday at the UNI-Dome.

"Guts and heart and determination, that's what it boils down to," St. Albert coach Jim Duggan said.

Duggan credits his senior class with righting the ship after a 1-2 start. Like flipping a switch, the Falcons suddenly have transformed themselves from also-rans to a state power. That's especially true on defense, where Duggan's club has forced 18 turnovers in its three playoff games.

"We're playing lights-out defense," he said.

Speaking of elevating its game, Montezuma takes a back seat to no one in that area. The Braves began the season 0-3. Leading rusher Cory Ferguson (862 yards) missed the first two games with a knee injury, quarterback Luke Thompson was injured in the first game, and two other starters missed time in the first two weeks.

In week three, the opening night of district play, West Branch nipped Montezuma 15-12. The Braves, who were back to full strength, had 160 yards in penalties.

"There was a lot of motivation for the kids, because they wanted to play them again," Montezuma coach Joe Donovan said. "They never panicked. I never saw them drop their heads."

In their wing-T offense, the Braves have three players with between 750 and 862 rushing yards, led by Ferguson, who averages 9.8 yards per carry. Thompson has thrown for 418 yards.

St. Albert is seeking its second title in three years. Senior linebacker Chad Belt, western Iowa's leading tackler during the regular season, is simply taking over games for stretches. Senior tailback Jeremy Schieffer has run for 1,461 yards and 16 scores, and senior Nolan Batten has thrown for 903 yards and eight scores.

"Nolan has elevated his game here in the last three weeks," Duggan said.