City High breaks away from Ottumwa after 60-yard fourth-quarter TD pass

IOWA CITY - The weather was certainly better this week but the lightning returned to Frank Bates Field in the form of a Jared Taylor to Jason Jones 60-yard touchdown pass midway through the fourth quarter. That strike regained the lead for City High over Ottumwa and sent the Little Hawks to a 35-17 triumph.

The victory boosted City's record to 3-2 overall and 1-0 in Class 4A District 6. Ottumwa is 2-3, 0-1.

'It's a go-route for him. Our front five did a great job giving me time to throw,” Taylor said. 'I got the ball out there and Jason made a nice play. We came out really slow; that play was huge.”

City led 14-10 at halftime but Ottumwa took the second half kickoff and drove 78 yards for the go-ahead touchdown. The Bulldogs took control of the line of scrimmage and ran it at will.

But City's defense stiffened and forced punts on Ottumwa's next three possessions. Meanwhile, City struggled to move the ball as well.

The Little Hawks took possession at their own 40 with 6:47 left in the game and trailing 17-14. On the first play from scrimmage Taylor faded back and lofted a perfect pass to the streaking Jones for the go-ahead touchdown.

'We were definitely throwing to set up the short game,” Taylor said. 'But their corners were kind of sneaking up, and we thought we could hit them with the long gain and we did.”

That score changed the game. City's defense forced another punt and took over at the 49-yard line. Nine plays later Bryce Frantz lunged into the end zone, and City led 28-17 with 2:21 left.

Vance Dillon intercepted a long pass on Ottumwa's first play of its next possession and ran a serpentine route 70 yards to a shut-the-door TD.

After the initial drive of the second half the Bulldogs were held completely in check.

'We found a way to win tonight,” City Coach Dan Sabers said.