Maquoketa Valley crushes Clayton Ridge, 39-14

DELHI - Maquoketa Valley needed a hero to step up against district rival Clayton Ridge, which entered Friday night's contest on a three-game win streak and unbeaten in district play.

Garret Hogan was that hero. Well, one of them anyway.

'Our line and defense were the heroes tonight, I'm just a role player,” said Hogan. 'The line is making good holes, and our defense didn't give up anything until late.”

The Wildcats (5-1, 3-1) defeated the Eagles (3-3, 3-1), 39-14, in Class 1A District 3 play.

Maquoketa Valley began its first possession pinned on its 6-yard line. But Hogan and crew were able to march the ball down the field 94 yards, and he capped the drive with a 19-yard TD run.

On the Wildcats' next possession, Hogan found a crease in the Clayton Ridge defense and exploded for a 48-yard run. A few plays later, quarterback Tyson Tucker trucked over a defender near the pylon to give the Wildcats a 12-0 lead.

Hogan then caught a 37-yard pass from Tucker on Maq Valley's next possession. Hogan finished the drive with an 11-yard TD run.

With less than a minute remaining in the first half, the Wildcats stayed aggressive as Tucker connected with Hogan on a short screen pass that Hogan took all the way to Clayton Ridge's 7-yard line. Tucker then connected with Brock Hillers for a 10-yard TD.

Hogan racked up 95 receiving yards and had 100 rushing yards with two TDs in the first half alone.

'Garret didn't play against West Branch (Maquoketa Valley's lone loss), so he's hungry,” Maquoketa Valley Coach Chris Evers said.

Tucker also had a huge game for the Wildcats as the senior threw for 224 and two TDs.

The Wildcat defense held Clayton Ridge to under 100 yards of total offense in the first half.