Colfax-Mingo’s offense can’t break through in decisive second half

MOUNT AYR — Colfax-Mingo’s high powered offense went right down the field on their opening possession of Monday’s Class A second-round playoff game.

The Tigerhawks got a big kickoff return from Blake Summy and then drove 51 yards in 10 plays to go up 7-0 in the school’s first-ever second-round postseason game.

First-half success continued for Colfax-Mingo as Jacob Lietz hauled in a 75-yard touchdown pass from Jared Myers and then he returned a punt for 75 yards to bring the Tigerhawks within 23-20 at halftime.

Unfortunately for the visitors, those 20 points were all Colfax-Mingo could muster in four quarters as Mount Ayr’s defense forced five turnovers and held the Tigerhawk offense to seven three and outs during a 42-20 victory at Raider Field.

Mount Ayr turned it over three times itself, but the Raiders (9-2) still improved to 9-0 on the season against Class A opponents because they rushed for 401 yards.

“We came down here and were ready to play,” Colfax-Mingo coach Jeff Lietz said. “We got a little momentum and we felt good going into halftime. I knew it was going to be a tighter game than last year.

“We just needed to get more stops in the second half. We didn’t play on their side of the ball enough.”

The win for the Raiders advances them to Friday’s quarterfinal round where they will host Lynnville-Sully at 7 p.m.

The Tigerhawks finished the game with an 8-3 record. They are the first team in school history to win a playoff games and they clinched playoff berths in back-to-back seasons for the first time in school history.

“Things didn’t go the way we wanted it to go tonight, but they still have a lot to be proud of,” Coach Lietz said. “I was happy with the way we played. We fought, but we just couldn’t get out on top in this one.”

Colfax-Mingo scored in 10 plays on its first offensive possession. The drive culminated with a 7-yard touchdown pass from Myers to Summy. It was Summy’s 12th touchdown reception of the season.

Mount Ayr scored on its first possession when Kyle Dolachek hauled in a 27-yard touchdown catch from Jacob Taylor.

Nick Wurster gave the Raiders a 9-7 lead with a 32-yard field goal, but the Tigerhawks scored one play later when Myers went up top to Jacob Lietz, who got behind the Mount Ayr secondary and sprinted to paydirt.

The touchdown put the Tigerhawks up 14-9. But it was 16-14 after one quarter in favor of the home team after Taylor scored on an 8-yard touchdown run.

Myers threw picks on back-to-back possessions in the second quarter, and the Raiders capitalized on the second one. Dolachek capped a seven-play drive with a 1-yard touchdown run that put the Raiders up 23-14, and Colfax-Mingo played from behind the rest of the night.

Jacob Lietz returned a punt 74 yards for a touchdown late in the second quarter to pull the Tigerhawks within 23-20.

The Raiders sent a big message on their first possession of the second half. A big kickoff return gave the ball to Mount Ayr on the Colfax-Mingo 41-yard line. Four plays later, Taylor put the Raiders up 29-20 with a 21-yard touchdown run.

“I thought that was big for us,” Mount Ayr co-head coach Derek Lambert said. “We needed to send a message right there at the beginning of the second half.”

Taylor ran in another touchdown from 8 yards out later in the game and the final points were scored when Taylor found Dolachek for a 7-yard touchdown pass with 11:36 left in the game.

Dolachek finished with 113 yards rushing and he grabbed six catches for 86 yards. Taylor ran for 112 yards and threw for 106.

Cal Daughton tallied 110 rushing yards, while Wurster had 43 yards on the ground and three interceptions on defense.

“We knew at some point in time our front line was going to wear them down,” Lambert said. “We’ve got so many rotations so our guys are able to stay fresh.We were able to put a little bit of pressure on (Myers), make him get ridof it just a litlte bit quicker and man, our secondary played lights out.”

Myers finished 13-of-39 for 154 yards and two touchdowns, but he threw four interceptions and turned it over a fifth time with a fumble on a sack. Mount Ayr sacked the Tigerhawks’ senior quarterback twice in the final two quarters.

“I just thought our guys on defense got much more aggressive. We made a couple of little adjustments, one in the secondary and one on the defensive line and our guys took to those really well,” Lambertsaid. “We got a lot more aggressive and came after it. We didn’t give Myers any time to set up and throw. He was on his heels. He was looking to see where we were coming from.”

Jacob Lietz finished with 98 yards on five catches, while Lane Dunblazer added 38 yards on two catches. The Tigerhawks had only 159 yards of total offense and six first downs.

Mount Ayr’s defense came into the game with four shutouts against Class A competition. And the most points the Raiders allowed against Class A opponents prior to Monday’s playoff game was 14.

But 20 points weren’t enough for the Tigerhawks, who graduate 13 seniors from the roster.

“I am very proud of them. It’s a tough night for the seniors,” Coach Lietz said. “We are the only team that has ever won a playoff game in the history of Colfax-Mingo. We also went to the playoffs two years in a row and that’s never been done before either. This group of boys deserves it. They have worked their tails off since third grade.”

Colfax-Mingo 14-6-0-0—20

Mount Ayr 16-7-13-6—42

C-M — Summy 7-yd pass from Myers (Buehrer kick)

MA — Dolacheck 27-yd pass from Taylor (kick failed)

MA — Wurster 32-yd field goal

C-M — Lietz 75-yd pass from Myers (Buehrer kick)

MA — Taylor 8-yd run (Wurster kick)

MA — Dolachek 1-yd run (Wurster kick)

C-M — Lietz 74-yd punt return (kick failed)

MA — Taylor 21-yd run (kick failed)

MA — Taylor 8-yd run (Wurster kick)

MA — Dolachek 7-yd pass from Taylor (kick failed)

Contact Troy Hyde at
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or thyde@newtondailynews.com