More videos from City High-Kennedy, including pivotal fourth-down play and Derby transcripts

IOWA CITY - Dan Sabers will accept a win any way it comes, but the Iowa City High football coach wasn't overjoyed with his team's performance last night.

The top-ranked Little Hawks slugged it out with Cedar Rapids Kennedy (2-4) and won, 22-14, at Bates Field. Iowa City High (6-0) scored twice late and withstood a 95-yard kickoff return by Kennedy's Joshua Simmons to hold on to the win.

“Kennedy is a good traditional, playoff-type program and they're going to be there again,” Sabers said. “So we didn't take good care of the ball and we found a way to win.”

(Iowa City High quarterback A.J. Derby committed to Iowa before the game. For a full press conference transcript, click here. For another press conference of him talking with reporters after the press conference, click here.)

Iowa City High stormed to a 9-0 lead. On the Little Hawks' first offensive possession, quarterback A.J. Derby hit wide receiver Alex Evans in stride, right over Kennedy defensive back Michael Rosenthal - who had tight coverage - for a 16-yard touchdown pass and a 7-0 lead.

Two possessions later, Kennedy was backed up on its 7. Simmons took an end-around and was caught in the end zone by Iowa City High's Tucker Tholen for a safety.

But Kennedy's defense stiffened. The Cougars forced five turnovers, including four by interception. After gaining just 39 yards at halftime, Kennedy held the ball for all but 3:22 in the third quarter. The Cougars finished an eight-play 51-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown run from quarterback Jed Haycraft to cut its deficit to 9-6.

Midway through the fourth quarter, Kennedy was stopped on a fourth-and-1 at the Iowa City High 35. The Little Hawks then grinded out a 13-play drive lasting 6:47 and ending in a 2-yard plunge from Derby on fourth down and a 16-6 lead.

Then the game got crazy. With 21.5 seconds left in the game, Iowa City High senior linebacker James Taylor - the homecoming king - intercepted a pass and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown. The Little Hawks missed the extra point but led 22-6.

On the ensuing kickoff, Simmons sprinted virtually untouched for 95 yards and a score. Haycraft ran in the two-point conversion to give Kennedy a shot at 22-14. But the onside kick attempt went out of bounds, and the Little Hawks ran out the clock.

“It was definitely a hard-fought game,” Iowa City High wide receiver John Chelf said. “Kennedy came down here with a great game plan, they executed it well, worked hard, and we're fortunate to come out here on top on homecoming.”

Derby threw for 105 yards and rushed for 44. Iowa City High running back Ellis Jordan ran for 72 yards on 25 carries. Haycraft completed 16 of 28 passes for 94 yards.