Makelle Taylor has record-breaking night as Prairie avenges loss to Linn-Mar

CEDAR RAPIDS — Makelle Taylor had never experienced a sequence like the one he produced in the second quarter.

Two plays. Two touchdowns. Half of his record-setting rush total chalked up in consecutive one-play drives that propelled Cedar Rapids Prairie to a comfortable lead.

“I think it’s just because all our guys bought in on beating these guys and dominating the whole game,” Taylor said. “We were all facing the same guys from last week. We were just locked in.”

Taylor rushed for 335 yards, unofficially, and backup quarterback Will Phillips stepped in to throw four touchdown passes in a 50-28 victory over No. 8 Linn-Mar in a Class 5A first-round playoff football game Friday night, avenging the regular-season finale loss in a rematch at John Wall Field.

“Their focus, demeanor and attitude was unbelievable all week long,” Prairie Coach Mark Bliss said. “I think they wanted to redeem themselves in the utmost way. I’m, just so proud of their effort all across the board.”

The Hawks took the field with something to prove after the Week 9 result. They were more energetic, more explosive and that helped everything fall into place.

“We came in with a huge chip on our shoulders,” Prairie’s Tate Joens said. “We just went out and performed.”

Taylor’s explosive runs provided dagger-like cuts to Linn-Mar, which pulled within 3 points after an early 9-0 deficit. He took a direct snap and burst through a gaping lane and darted 79 yards for his first score.

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Photos: Linn-Mar vs. Cedar Rapids Prairie playoff football

“My line blocked it perfectly,” Taylor said. “I ran straight up the middle. I only saw the safety and had to stiff arm him a little bit and then I was just to the crib.”

After Brock Harder’s first of two interceptions turned Linn-Mar away at the Prairie 2, a press box worker joked about a 98-yard TD run happening. Taylor delivered on the first play after the turnover, running around the right end, getting a nice seal block and accelerating by and away from defenders for the score and a 23-6 lead with 7:55 to go before halftime.

“My blocking back (Joens) set a good block on the edge,” Taylor said. “They were in goal line and pinched in and I just ran straight down the sideline.”

Taylor rushed 23 times and set a school single-game record, according to Bliss. The old mark was 260. Taylor is approaching the 1,400-yard mark this season, overcoming injuries to both ankles.

“He’s scary,” Bliss said. “The last two weeks are the best he’s ever felt. When he hit the gas, he was fun to watch. I’m glad he’s on our sideline and not anybody else’s.”

Prairie was without starting QB Cal Sullivan, who broke an ankle in the first meeting between the two. Junior Will Phillips was thrust into the role and thrived. He was 8 of 14 for 182 yards and four scores, connecting with receiver Apollo Payne four times for 114 yards.

“He’s a diamond in the rough,” Bliss said. “He’s bided his time and done everything he can. He’s a 4.0 student. Very cerebral. He loves the game of football.

“We thought we were going to have to water down some things. We didn’t have to water down anything. He understands our offense that well. That’s a tribute to him and his ability to absorb and embrace everything we threw at him. He did a great job.”

Phillips and Payne hooked up for a 35-yard scoring strike for the team’s first TD in the opening quarter. After a roughing the punter penalty gave Prairie a first down with less than a minute left in the first half, Phillips hit Payne on a 68-yard bomb, giving the Hawks a 30-6 halftime advantage.

Phillips also hit Brayden Duerksen and Tate Joens on TD passes of 12 and 41 yards in the third quarter.

“Will Phil stepped up,” Joens said of Phillips. “He did awesome.”

Prairie’s defense turned things around from last week, allowing just six points through the first three quarters.

The Hawks were strong and aggressive. They surrendered more than 100 yards rushing to Linn-Mar’s Carter Henderson last week, but held him to 80 this time. The Hawks also forced three turnovers and notched a safety on Linn-Mar’s first possession, tackling the punter in the end zone after a bad snap.

“We made some key mistakes last week,” said Prairie linebacker Nic Powell, who finished with a team-high eight tackles including three for loss. “We knew coming in we had to fix those mistakes. We had to focus and play our heart out because it’s win or go home. We’re playing for a little bit more now.”

Prairie earned another chance at a rematch. The Hawks return to Runnells for another chance at revenge against No. 4 Southeast Polk. The Rams (9-1) forced five turnovers in a 41-0 victory Oct. 7.

“We have to play as a team,” Powell said. “Tonight, our whole offense and defense executed. If we can keep that going into next week, we can pull out another win.”

Austin Waller passed for 241 yards and three TDs, including an 82-yard score to Keaton Roskop. Henderson added a 22-yard TD run for Linn-Mar (6-4).

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com

C.R. PRAIRIE 50

LINN-MAR 28

AT JOHN WALL FIELD

LM CRP

First Downs 15 14

Rushes-yards 22-63 38-376

Passing yards 241 182

Comp-att-int 14-25-3 8-14-0

Total yards 304 558

Fumbles-lost 2-0 2-0

Punts-avg. 2-32.0 2-29.5

Penalties-yards 3-25 7-100

Linn-Mar 0 6 0 22– 28

C.R. Prairie 9 21 14 6 -- 50

CRP – Team safety

CRP – Apollo Payne 35 pass from Will Phillips (Sawyer Sleazak kick)

LM – Dylan Muszynski 16 pass from Austin Waller (kick blocked)

CRP – Makelle Taylor 79 run (Slezak kick)

CRP – Taylor 98 run (Slezak kick)

CRP – Payne 68 pass from Phillips (Slezak kick)

CRP – Brayden Duerksen 12 pass from Phillips (Slezak kick)

CRP – Tate Joens 41 pass from Phillips (Slezak kick)

LM – Carter Henderson 22 run (Mitchell Frahm kick)

CRP – Collin Velky 3 run (kick failed)

LM – Keaton Roskop 82 pass from Waller (Frahm kick)

LM – Tayden Ferguson 17 pass from Waller (T.J. Jackson pass to Emerson Gasper)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING – Linn-Mar: Carter Henderson 13-80, T.J. Jackson 1-9, Austin Waller 6-8, Aidan Mesch 1-(-2), Team 1-(-32). C.R. Prairie: Makelle Taylor 23-335, Casey Kelley 6-41, Collin Velky 4-13, Jack Wagemester 1-(-2), Cade Stout 1-(-2), Will Phillips 2-(-3), Team 1-(-6).

PASSING – Linn-Mar: Waller 14-24-3-241, Abe Behning 0-1-0-0. C.R. Prairie: Phillips 8-14-0-182.

RECEIVING – Linn-Mar: Keaton Roskop 2-83, Dylan Muszynski 4-76, T.J. Jackson 4-53, Tayden Ferguson 3-30, Carter Henderson 1-(-1). C.R. Prairie: Apollo Payne 4-114, Tate Joens 1-41, Kelley 1-16, Brayden Duerksen 1-12, Velky 1-(-1).