HIGH SCHOOL JOURNALISM: Catching up with Maquoketa Valley football

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By Diane Temple, MV newspaper adviser

DELHI - The Maquoketa Valley football team gave the homecoming crowd something to cheer about last Friday night with a 35-14 win over the Alburnett Pirates.

The Wildcats started quickly with Ryan Parmely rushing for a 56-yard touchdown within the first two minutes. Rob Bockenstedt was right on with the extra point, giving MV a 7-0 lead which they kept throughout the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Trevor Koopmann rushed for 9-yard touchdown, and once again Bockenstedt made the extra point. Alburnett answered a  touchdown with three minutes left in the half, but MV wasn't about to end the quarter on that note. Quarterback Ben Dzaboff scored a 16-yard play with a little over one minute left and Bockenstedt's extra point was good, making it 21-7 MV at halftime.

Alburnett came back after the half with an agenda and scored a touchdown off of a four-yard pass. Less than six game minutes later, however, Parmely once again found the end zone with a 15-yard rushing touchdown, followed by another good Bockenstedt extra point.

The fourth quarter  featured a Parmely 35-yard rushing touchdown and another Bockenstedt extra point.

Both teams moved the ball throughout the night with Alburnett tallying 352 yards to MV's 417. MV once again relied on its rushing game, collecting 327 yards to the Pirates' 164. MV passed for 90 yards to Alburnett's 188.

Leading ball carriers were Parmely with 230 yards, Dzaboff with 58, Koopmann with 24, Steve Huber with 10 and Tyler Yonkovic with 5.

Jared Coyle recovered four fumbles and Parmely one. Aaron Dzaboff intercepted the ball and returned it 24 yards.

John Tanner Hargrafen led with 14 tackles, followed by Koopmann and Huber with seven each. Zach Salow was in on six tackles.

Tonight, the undefeated Wildcats take on Durant at home.