Linn-Mar Football

Atwater heads All-Metro football team

Mark Atwater, who quarterbacked Linn-Mar to an unbeaten regular season and No. 2 ranking in the polls, is the Metro Football Player of the Year, according to voting by the Metro football coaches.

Atwater, a senior, completed nearly 4 percent of his passes for 1,715 yards and 25 touchdowns. He also ran for 808 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also started at linebacker for the Lions and had 53 tackles.

Atwater was one of three Lions named to the All-Metro first team offense. Senior wide receiver Andy Henry caught 53 passes for 1,020 yards and a Mississippi Valley Conference record 18 touchdowns. Senior Mitch Wantock rushed for 1,109 yards and nien touchdowns in nine games. He broke his ankle in Linn-Mar's regular season finale at Xavier and was unavailable for the Lions' two playoff games.

Linn-Mar seniors A.J. Garcia and Tommy Feller were named to the first team defense. Feller led the Lions with 86 tackles. Garcia, a lineman, had 25 tackles, including seven for loss.

Linn-Mar finished 10-1, losing to Washington in the second round of the Class 4A playoffs.

Washington had five players on the first team. Senior Flynn Heald was the only Warrior to make the offensive team. He caught 63 passes -- 21 in one game -- for 954 yards and five touchdowns.

Seniors David Tann, Sean Bredl and Ryan Cain were named to the first team defense. Bredl, a linebacker, led the Warriors with 106 tackles, including 10 for loss. Tann, who alternated between safety and linebacker, had 101 tackles (18 for loss) and intercepted three passes, one for a touchdown. Cain, a cornerback, missed most of the first four games because of a broken collarbone, but came back and had 33 tackles and three interceptions.

Senior Michael Peterson was named the punter on the team with a 39.2 average.

Tony Lombardi and the Washington coaching staff were named Coach of the Year. The Warriors finished the season 8-4, reaching the quarterfinals of the playoffs where they were beaten by Cedar Falls, 35-32.

Xavier also had five players on the first team, three on offense. Senior tackles William Wright helped open the holes that allowed senior running back Carter Valentine to rush for 1,149 yards and 10 touchdowns. Junior quarterback Reggie Schulte completed 65.5 percent of his passes for 1,501 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Senior defensive end Kevin Hosch had 32 tackles for the Saints. Senior Chad Gilmer converted 20 of 21 PAT kicks and 4 of 8 on field goals with a long of 42 yards.

Kennedy had four first teamers, two on each side of the ball. Senior Trevor Heitland ran for 714 yards and 12 touchdowns and caught 29 passes for 542 yards and five touchdowns as a flanker/running back. senior quarterback Jimmy Lizarraga completed 53.5 per cent of his passes for 1,385 yards and eight touchdowns.

Senior safety Josh Jahlas led the Cougars in tackles with 116. He also intercepted two passes. Senior defensive end Logan Letellier had 93 tackles, 10 for loss.

Marion had three players on the first team. Senior Colton Storla led the Metro in rushing with 1,222 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Marion senior linebacker Jake McDonald was the Metro leader in tackling with 135, including 21 for loss. His 135 tackles ranked fourth in Class 3A and his 21 for loss ranked second in 3A. He finished with 325 career tackles.

Marion senior cornerback Hunter Banes had seven interceptions, ranking him tied for second in Class 3A. He also had 65 tackles.

Prairie had two players on the first team. Junior wide receiver Jarred Edmonds caught 26 passes for 529 yards and seven touchdowns. Sophomore Tristan Beyer had 52 tackles.

Jefferson's lone representative on the first team was senior defensive lineman Mic Vesey, who had 16 tackles.

2011 ALL-METRO FOOTBALL TEAM

FIRST TEAM
Offense
Mark Atwater, Linn-Mar, sr.
Andy Henry, Linn-Mar, sr.
Mitch Wantock, Linn-Mar, sr.
Flynn Heald, Washington, sr.
Trevor Heitland, Kennedy, sr.
Jimmy Lizarraga, Kennedy, sr.
William Wright, Xavier, sr.
Carter Valentine, Xavier, sr.
Reggie Schulte, Xavier, jr.
Colton Storla, Marion, sr.
Jarred Edmonds, Prairie, jr.
PK - Chad Gilmer, Xavier, sr.

Defense
A.J. Garcia, Linn-Mar, sr.
Tommy Feller, Linn-Mar, sr.
David Tann, Washington, sr.
Sean Bredl, Washington, sr.
Ryan Cain, Washington, sr.
Logan Letellier, Kennedy, sr.
Josh Jahlas, Kennedy, sr.
Kevin Hosch, Xavier, sr.
Jake McDonald, Marion, sr.
Hunter Banes, Marion, sr.
Mic Vesey, Jefferson, sr.
Tristan Beyer, Prairie, soph.
P - Michael Peterson, Washington, sr.

SECOND TEAM
Offense
Dustin Smith, Linn-Mar, sr.
Tyler Burrell, Washington, sr.
Zac Gilles, Washington, jr.
Austin Holzer, Kennedy, soph.
Alex Hillyer, Kennedy, jr.
Zach Borens, Marion, jr.
Ethan Herren, Marion, jr.
Christian Knox, Jefferson, sr.
Ryan Eivins, Jefferson, sr.
Sam Manternach, Prairie, sr.

Defense
Colton Sanchez, Linn-Mar, sr.
Travis Kvach, Linn-Mar, sr.
Michael Redmond, Linn-Mar, sr.
Michael Daughtery, Washington, sr.
Stohrm Henry, Washington, sr.
Shane Williams, Kennedy, sr.
Colm Larkin, Xavier, sr.
Jordan Weber, Xavier, sr.
Jack Boland, Xavier, sr.
Justin Dolley, Marion, jr.
Brayton Carlson, Prairie, sr.

HONORABLE MENTION
Marion -- Brennen Kelly, Taylor Rogers, Trev Biery, Cale Cannoy, Tyler Gunderson
Xavier -- Seth Fahnle, Josh Giles, Matt Hansen, Jordan Hoffman, Corbin Woods
Jefferson -- Tanner Lunfd, Aaron Gruwell, Austin Short, Austin Goodell, Alex Baxter
Prairie -- Jace Hanna, Bryce Meeker, Demetrius Harper, Mitch Dellamuth, Bryce Alberts
Washington -- Braedon Tovey, Mitch Bredeson, JoJo McBride, McCauley Todd, Mitch Blades
Kennedy -- Michael Lawshea, Gage Berry, David Hynek, Riley Fergus, Drew Heitland
Linn-Mar -- Jacob Hutchins, Bryan Goings, Justin Green, Zach Martins, Nick Trabuco

2011 METRO FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR -- Mark Atwater, Linn-Mar

2011 METRO COACH OF THE YEAR -- Tony Lombardi and staff, Washington

Atwater MVC football Athlete of the Year

Linn-Mar senior quarterback Mark Atwater is the Mississippi Valley Conference Mississippi Division Athlete of the Year for the 2011 football season.

The conference announced its postseason teams Monday. They were chosen by vote of the conference coaches.

Atwater guided the Lions to an undefeated regular season, a Mississippi Division title and No. 2 ranking in the state. He completed nearly 64 percent of his passes for 1,715 yards and 25 touchdowns and also was Linn-Mar's second-leading rusher with 808 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Atwater was one of five Lions selected to the Mississippi Division first team offense and defense. Kennedy and Washington had four apiece.

Xavier had four first-team picks in the Valley Division, Prairie three and Jefferson one.

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Washington rally ends Lions' dream season

Linn-Mar had Washington on the ropes of their Class 4A football playoff game Monday night at Linn-Mar Stadium.

Mark Atwater's 1-yard sneak with 5:55 to play capped a 71-yard drive that gave the Lions a 26-14 lead. The Lions failed in their two-point PAT attempt, but it seemed like an afterthought.

After all, Washington was unraveling. The Warriors had committed two unsportsmanlike conduct fouls on top of pass interference and personal foul penalties for 46 yards that put the ball at the Washington 2.

It seemed a certainty that Linn-Mar was going to advance to the quarterfinals.

Washington didn't get the message.

The Warriors scored two touchdowns in the final 4:46, the last on a 3-yard pass from Braedon Tovey to Flynn Heald with 9 seconds left, and upset second-ranked Linn-Mar, 28-26.

The loss ended Linn-Mar's unbeaten streak. The Lions finished the season 10-1.

It was the end of a dream season for Linn-Mar. The Lions won the Mississippi Valley Conference Mississippi Division and Atwater ran for more than 800 yards and 12 touchdowns, and passed for more than 1,700 yards and 25 touchdowns. Andy Henry caught an MVC record 18 touchdown passes.

"It's indescribable to me," Atwater said, when asked if he could summarize what the season meant to him. "It didn't shake out our way, but I wouldn't trade this team for anything. They're a great group of guys and this ride was amazing for me. I wouldn't have it any other way."

Washington (8-3) advances to play Cedar Falls (10-1) in Friday's quarterfinal round at Kingston Stadium. Cedar Falls beat Iowa City High, 21-7, Monday night.

It was a stunned group of Lions that sat in the Linn-Mar locker room after the game. Linn-Mar had whipped Washington, 56-7, on Oct. 7.

"Not a bit," Atwater said, when asked if he thought the previous encounter with the Warriors affected the Lions Monday. "We knew they were going to be a better team.

"They played well tonight. We caught them on a bad night, or something. We just didn't execute (and) they played very well. We turned over the ball too much to win tonight."

The Lions had three turnovers. One led to a Washington touchdown, and the other two prevented possible Linn-Mar scores.

Atwater, who threw only four interceptions in the previous 10 games, was intercepted twice. The first, by Washington's Ryan Cain in the Warrior end zone, was negated by Michael Redmond's 34-yard punt return that gave the Lions the ball back at the Washington 27. On the first play, Atwater swept around left end for the touchdown and a 7-0 lead with 5:15 left to play in the first quarter.

The second interception, off a deflection that ended up in the hands of Washington's David Tann, who returned it 26 yards to the Linn-Mar 34, set up Washington's first touchdown that tied the game, 7-7, early in the second quarter.

A 17-yard touchdown pass from Atwater to Redmond put Linn-Mar ahead 17-14 late in the first half.

Moments later the Lions appeared to get a huge break when Zach Martins intercepted a pass and returned it deep into Washington territory. But at the end of Martins' run, the ball was popped loose and the Warriors' Stohrm Henry recovered at the Washington 16 with 35 seconds left in the half.

Quinn Treiber's 24-yard field goal with 1:06 left in the third quarter boosted Linn-Mar's lead to 20-14.

The Lions then marched 71 yards to go ahead 26-14.

Washington zipped back 53 yards on six plays. Tovey's 20-yard touchdown pass to Mitch Blades pulled the Warriors within 26-21 with 4:46 remaining.

And the Lions were losing their grasp.

"They drove quick on us and we made mistakes," Atwater said. "They picked apart some of our zones. They threw the ball well, dinked and dunked us underneath and methodically drove down and scored quick."

Linn-Mar put its "hands" team out in anticipation of an onsides kick and Washington's Michael Daughtery drove the ball into the end zone for a touchback.

Linn-Mar had a chance to salt the game away. The Lions picked up a first down at their own 31, converting on a fourth-and-a foot. But a holding penalty pushed the ball back to the 25. Atwater connected with Andy Henry for four yards and ran an option keeper for three more when Washington called a timeout with 2:19 to play. Atwater's third-down pass to Henry was incomplete and the Lions were forced to punt.

"We came back but then we got a penalty," Atwater said. "We drove back and knew we could do it in first- (down) and second-and-short, but we put ourselves in too long of a situation."

Washington got the ball back at its own 42 with 2:08 to play. A 24-yard pass from Tovey to Heald put the ball at the Linn-Mar 28. On first-and-10 at the 18, Tovey scrambled 11 yards to the 7. Tann carried it to the 3 and Washington called its final timeout with 29 seconds left.

The Warriors appeared to make a huge mistake when Mitch Bredeson was stopped for no gain in the middle of the field, but they stepped back up to the ball and Tovey threw a strike to Heald in the left flat for the go-ahead touchdown with 9 seconds left.

"That last one, they drove," Atwater said. "We tried to switch it up. They made more plays than us tonight."

The Lions had one last gasp with 7.8 seconds left and the ball at their own 14, but Atwater was sacked by Sean Bredl to end the game.

"I think the biggest thing is that we're just really proud of the kids," Linn-Mar Coach Bob Forsyth said. "We had a great season. They put a lot of work into this. We just weren't able to get it done tonight."

WASHINGTON 28, LINN-MAR 26

CRW       LM

First Downs         13         20
Rushing             24-118     51-232
Passing             9-20-1     7-15-2
Passing Yards       117        113
Fumbles/Lost        0/0        4/1
Punts               5-37.6     2-27.5
Penalties           8-73       8-55

Washington     0   14   0   14 - 28
Linn-Mar       7   10   3    6 - 26

SCORING PLAYS

LM - Mark Atwater 27 run (Quinn Treiber PAT)
CRW - Will Griffin 2 run (Michael Daughtery PAT)
LM - Treiber 37 FG
CRW - David Tann 22 pass from Braedon Tovey (Daughtery PAT)
LM - Michael Redmond 17 pass from Atwater (Treiber PAT)
LM - Treiber 24 FG
LM - Atwater 1 run (run failed)
CRW - Mitch Blades 20 pass from Tovey (Daughtery PAT)
CRW - Flynn Heald 3 pass from Tovey (Daughtery PAT)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Washington

Rushing: Mitch Bredeson 14-44, Will Griffin 12-38, Braedon Tovey 6-30,
David Tann 2-6, Flynn Heald 1-0

Passing: Braedon Tovey 9-20-1, 117
Receiving: Flynn Heald 4-44, Ryan Cain 3-31, David Tann 1-22,
Mitch Blades 1-20

Linn-Mar

Rushing: Mark Atwater 32-140, Nick Trabucco 5-42, Ross Lembeck 7-24,
Brandon Ophoff 6-23, Andy Henry 1-3
Passing: Mark Atwater 7-15-2, 113
Receiving: Andy Henry 5-53, Zach Martins 1-43, Michael Redmond 1-17

No. 2 Lions bracing for different Warriors

Linn-Mar Coach Bob Forsyth has no idea how Monday night's playoff game against Cedar Rapids Washington will turn out, but he's pretty sure of one thing.

It probably won't be 56-7 again.

That's how badly the second-ranked Lions walloped the Warriors on Oct. 7 in the seventh game of the regular season.

There have been two major changes since then.

Number 1, Linn-Mar tailback Mitch Wantock broke his right ankle Oct. 21 and was lost for the playoffs, robbing the club of 1,109 yards and nine touchdowns (not to mention his good work on defense).

Number 2, Washington tailback Will Griffin is getting close to 100 percent after missing the first five games due to ankle surgery. Griffin played against Linn-Mar in the first meeting, but was still wobbly and contributed only 30 yards on 16 carries.

Griffin has been on a roll since then. He carried 15 times for 181 yards and four touchdowns against Iowa City West, carried 28 times for 172 yards and three TDs against Waterloo West, and rushed 20 times for 97 yards and two TDs in the playoff opener against Davenport Assumption.

Griffin has averaged 150 yards and three touchdowns in Washington's last three games, and it's probably no coincidence the Warriors won all three of them.

Forsyth knows Washington is a different team with a healthy Griffin at tailback.

"They do a lot of good things," Forsyth said. "I think he's back and ready to go. They did some nice things against Assumption.

"So yeah, they'll be ready to play. We'll have to do our best to counter whatever they do."

Monday night's game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at Linn-Mar Stadium. The winner will face Cedar Falls or Iowa City High in the quarterfinals Friday night at a site to be determined.

Linn-Mar (10-0) blitzed Clinton, 47-0, in the first round of the 4A playoffs last Wednesday. Washington (7-3) trimmed Davenport Assumption, 38-35, in a come-from-behind victory that night.

Brandon Ophoff and Ross Lembeck subbed for Wantock at tailback for the Lions against Clinton. Ophoff, the No. 2 tailback all season, started and carried the ball 13 times for 58 yards. Lembeck, who was promoted from the sophomore team for the playoffs, rushed nine times for 89 yards and a touchdown.

"They both ran hard. I thought they both did a nice job," Forsyth said. "They got snapped in pretty quick to what we needed to do."

Linn-Mar quarterback Mark Atwater has enjoyed an outstanding season for the Lions. He's completed 92 of 140 passes (65.7 percent) for 1,602 yards and 24 touchdowns. He's also carried the ball 100 times for 668 yards and 10 TDs.

Atwater's favorite target is Andy Henry, who has caught 48 passes for 967 yards and 18 touchdowns. Henry has broken Mississippi Valley Conference records for receiving yards and touchdown receptions. He's also scored twice on kick returns.

Washington has a potent passing attack of its own. Quarterback Braedon Tovey has thrown for 1,332 yards and 10 touchdowns, and Flynn Heald has caught 54 passes for 855 yards and four TDs.

The Warriors can throw the ball, but they've tilted toward the running game in recent weeks with Mitch Bredeson (152 carries for 808 yards), David Tann (71 carries for 575 yards) and Griffin (98 carries for 531 yards) all capable of having big games.

Bredeson, Tann and Griffin have combined for 25 touchdowns. Walter Short has contributed 348 yards and four touchdowns to the rushing attack.

Washington uses a variety of formations and shifts Heald to quarterback for option running plays. The Warriors also can throw from a spread formation and executed a perfect two-minute drill for a touchdown against Iowa City High at the end of the first half.

"It's a challenge, especially with a short turnaround," Forsyth said. "Basically what we have to do is just try to stay in the structure of our defense, no matter what they do.

"Everybody has a responsibility and a job and a gap and those kind of things. If we just take care of that, no matter what they do, we feel like we'll be all right."

Forsyth is not counting on 56-7 again.

"I think we all understand it's a completely different game," he said. "We'll have to earn everything that we get this game, and nothing really translates over from the last game."