Falcons win 2nd Class 1A State Championship

Posted: 11/18/2006 - by

CEDAR FALLS - There's something about a pressure situation that brings out the best in St. Albert.

When it would be easiest to fold, the Falcons thrive, and Friday night at the UNI-Dome saw a familiar scenario as St. Albert put together a clutch fourth quarter to pull out a 21-14 win over Montezuma in the Class 1A state football championship, hoisting its second state title trophy in the last three years in the process.

Doug Moran provided the game-winner with a 13-yard touchdown run early in the fourth, and defensive back Jake Hoffa sealed the deal with an interception in the end zone on Montezuma's last drive.

"That's the way it's been all year," said Falcon coach Jim Duggan. "When we've needed to, we've rallied, and these guys made some big plays tonight."

The final minutes of the game were reminiscent of St. Albert's 2004 crown.

Clinging to a slender lead, the Falcons watched as Montezuma marched 62 yards down to the St. Albert 17 yard line for a first-and-10 with less than two minutes to go.

After a stuffed run and an incomplete pass, the Braves went to throw on third-and-11, with two receivers running a crossing pattern to the left side. Quarterback Luke Thompson fired to the end zone, but Hoffa read it perfectly, going up for the pick and falling in the end zone.

 "I was trying not to think about dropping it," Hoffa said. "I just wanted to capitalize ... I saw the two guys crossing in front of me, and I was about 80-percent sure which one he was going to throw it too."

"Jake has been making those plays all year," said Duggan. "He's a senior, and that's what you expect from a senior. He got the job done."

In '04, it was a goal line stand that got St. Albert the win, and the players on this year's squad were well aware of the similarities.

"That's exactly what I was thinking about ... the 2004 season," said senior quarterback Nolan Batten, who was a starter as a sophomore on that team. "We got it done then when we needed too, and I knew we could again.

"It always seems to be a great ending with us."

Batten finished the game 6-for-10 passing for 74 yards and added a team-high 72 yards on the ground on 17 carries, including a pair of first-half touchdowns.

Moran and Schieffer added 45 and 41 yards respectively. Cameron Tucker was the leading receiver with three catches for 46 yards, and kicker C.J. Gradoville was a perfect 3-for-3 on his extra point attempts.

Defensively, linebacker Chad Belt continued his tear through the postseason with a game-high 13.5 tackles, while Jace Cochran added seven and had a key interception in the third quarter.

After Batten punched in a seven-yard touchdown run to give the Falcons their first lead of the game at 7-6, Montezuma responded with a pair of quick first downs on the ensuing drive before Cochran came up with an interception and returned it 28 yards down to the Brave 17.

Four plays later, Batten scored his second touchdown of the game from four yards out as St. Albert took a 14-6 lead into halftime.

Montezuma tied it on a Kyler Kudart six-yard run and Jake Bru two-point conversion with 3:28 left in the third quarter before Moran scored on the very next drive for what would prove to be the winning touchdown.

It ended what has been an impressive postseason run for the Falcons, who started out the year 1-2 before winning 10 in a row, including avenging a regular-season loss to Logan-Magnolia and outscoring opponents 91-14 in the first three rounds of the playoffs.

"It just seems like everyone steps up this time of year," Schieffer said. "Plus, ever since (losing in the semifinals) last year, we've been wanting this."

"I felt like it was important to win this one," Batten said. "As a senior class, we've been talking about a state championship since sixth grade, and this being our last game ... we really wanted it."

Thirteen seniors in all finished their prep careers with a state title in Hoffa, Tucker, Belt, Batten, Schieffer, Gradoville, Moran, Jeff McGruder, Chris McKenzie, Sam Egger, Chris Poulos, Shawn Daley and Graham Whye.

St. Albert has been to the Dome every year since the seniors were freshman, including three title game appearances and a pair of state championships.

"That's where we want the bar, we want it set high," Duggan said. "These seniors ... their legacy is cemented."

Montezuma 0 6 8 0 - 14

St. Albert 0 14 0 7 - 21

SCORING

Second Quarter

Mont-Jake Bru 80 run. (Kick failed).

SA-Nolan Batten 7 run. (C.J. Gradoville kick).

SA-Batten 4 run. (Gradoville kick).

Third Quarter

Mont-Kyler Kudart 6 run. (Bru run).

Fourth Quarter

SA-Doug Moran 13 run. (Gradoville kick).

Records: Montezuma (9-4), St. Albert (11-2).

Ratings: SWI: St. Albert 4th (A-1A-2A).

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