Iowa high school football rewind: Center Point-Urbana storms back to beat Marion for first victory of the season

Things are beginning to click for Center Point-Urbana.

The Stormin’ Pointers have made strides each week and now they have a win to show for it.

CPU stormed back with the last three touchdowns, including the game-winner with about five minutes remaining for a 24-21 victory over Marion Friday night at Rogers Field in Center Point.

“It still amazes me the fight they have,” said first-year CPU coach Travis Bark, who was previously defensive coordinator since 2017. “You can put us up against anybody … these kids are going to fight. They don’t worry about who is in front of them. They worry about what they need to do until the final ticks of the clock and that’s key to get a program rolling.”

CPU has two new head coaches in as many seasons. Brennan Schott took over last year but resigned after becoming principal at North Linn Elementary School. Bark has added his own influence on Schott’s foundation. Part of the strides made each week is a better grasp of the new hybrid offense — spread and single-wing, according to Bark.

“To keep moving forward like they have, I’m just really proud,” Bark said. “We’re starting to execute better offensively. They’re starting to understand what we’re trying to do and how we want to attack, schematically.”

The Stormin’ Pointers (1-2) suffered a lopsided loss to Grinnell in Week 1 and battled back from a huge deficit in a three-point loss to Anamosa last week. Marion led 21-0 in the second quarter but CPU didn’t fold.

“We just chipped away at things and made plays when we had to,” Bark said. “We made some key defensive stops.”

Interestingly, the new offense has generated big pass plays, including the 75-yard TD pass from Brennen Merkle to Carter Andrews.

“We’re not really a throwing team but that’s what we’re having success with right now,” said Bark, a track coach who has multiple accomplished runners on the roster. “I’ve got a lot of speed on the team. I have to find ways to utilize it a little bit better. That’s on me.”

The pair connected for another long scoring strike in the third, pulling within 21-16. Confidence started to build and the tide began to turn. The enthusiasm on the CPU sideline was palpable.

“He (Andrews) made a great play and had a great run after the catch,” Bark said. “After that second touchdown you could see something click. It’s amazing to see the kids feel it in situations like that.”

Andrews finished with 187 receiving yards and two TDs on six catches, increasing his season totals to 13 catches, 344 yards and four scores. Merkle passed for 243 yards. They hooked up for a huge gain on a broken bubble-concept pass play, advancing to the Marion 15.

The run game took over and A.J. Maloney punched it in from the 2 for CPU’s first lead. Tyler Knight scored his second two-point conversion of the game, making it a three-point lead with about five minutes left.

“We had to play a lot of defense after that,” Bark said. “I felt confident we were in a good position to win. Obviously, you’re still a little nervous but I felt we had planned properly for that situation. It really paid off.

CPU travels to South Tama next week.

Prairie drops No. 5 Southeast Polk

Cedar Rapids Prairie produced a big upset Friday at home, beating Southeast Polk, 30-20. It was the Hawks’ first win over the Rams.

“We physically beat them up,” Prairie Coach Kyle Knock told The Gazette. “Honestly, I didn't see that coming but I'm so proud of these kids for their effort tonight.”

The Hawks amassed 220 rushing yards, including 111 and a TD from Bjay Bush Jr. and 90 from Quinton Alexander, who had two TDs. Bush’s 48-yard run gave the Hawks a 14-0 lead in the second.

“There was a lot of stuff going through my head,” Bush told The Gazette. “I know my teammates needed me tonight and I just wanted to finish it.”

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Cedar Rapids Prairie knocks off No. 5 Southeast Polk

Southeast Polk came back to tie it, 14-14, at the half. The Hawks responded after the break, receiving a 37-yard field goal from Junior Boxa and scoring runs of 1 and 58 yards from Alexander, who put Prairie ahead 30-14 with 9:22 left.

Prairie is now 2-1 and hosts Pleasant Valley (3-0) next.

Notable Week 3 performers

Here are some notable performances from Friday’s games.

• MFL MarMac’s Quinn McGeough rushed for 172 yards and scored four TDs in a 62-20 victory over New Hampton.

• Alburnett’s Cooper Franklin was a tackling machine in a 21-14 win over previously unbeaten Dyersville Beckman. Cooper had 14 total stops with nine solo and assisted on a tackle for loss.

• Kolt Knaack and Gavin Rausch helped North Tama get its first win, beating Ackley AGWSR 38-9. Knaack completed 18 of 21 passes for 236 yards and two TDs, adding a team-high 88 yards rushing. Rausch rushed for 87 yards and three TDs.

• Highland’s Jared Diaz grabbed three interceptions, which is tied for second in the state for a single-game total. He has four interceptions this season. The Huskies’ Tyler Pierson and Colten Sypherd also had picks in a 13-0 win over Van Buren.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com