Small on numbers, Maquoketa Valley gets a key win

The roster was shrinking to a dangerously low number. The losses were mounting.It appeared the season was slipping away from Maquoketa Valley.Then came Friday.The Wildcats re-established themselves as Class 1A playoff contenders with a 17-7 upset of previously unbeaten Wapsie Valley at Delhi.“Oh, man. The kids were fantastic,” said Wildcats Coach Greg Drew. “We played very physical.”Wapsie Valley's Connor O'Brien entered the game as the state's leading rusher, with 1,111 yards through his first five games. The Wildcats held him to 132.“We knew we were going to give up some yards,” Drew said. “We made a big push not to allow (O'Brien) to make big plays. He got some 12-, 13-, 15-yarders. But he didn't get the 70-yarders that he sometimes does.”Maquoketa Valley dug in and prevailed with a 15-man varsity roster. The team began the season with 19 players, then injuries to key players like quarterback Cody Schindler (broken finger) and Jordan Mensen (concussion) carved the roster further.The Wildcats (3-3 overall, 2-2 Class 1A District 5) won their first three games on the field, but were forced to forfeit a 20-19 Week 2 win over Cascade because of the misinterpretation of a rule regarding playing-time eligibility.After opening district play with a win over North Linn, the Wildcats played three straight unbeatens from Class 1A District 5. They suffered shutout losses to Turkey Valley and Starmont before turning it around Friday.Kyle Whitman ran for 203 yards.Maquoketa Valley faces another tough contest next week at Clayton Ridge (5-2, 2-2). A win probably would push the Wildcats into the playoffs. A loss would mean wait-and-see through the final two weeks.“Like I told the kids, we control our own destiny,” Drew said. “If we take care of ourselves, we'll be fine.”