HIGH SCHOOL JOURNALISM: Wildcats capture 'feline' battle

Editor's note: Here is your chance to tell your story about your team, your school or your favorite player. If you'd like to join The Gazette's growing list of high school contributors, contact J.R. Ogden at jr.ogden@thegazette.com

By Diane Temple, Maquoketa Valley newspaper adviserIn a battle of the felines, the Maquoketa Valley Wildcats came out on top in the football showdown with  the Panthers of Monticello on Friday, 20-16.The lead changed hands all night.Monticello scored first with a field goal in the first quarter and MV answered with a 24-yard touchdown run by Ben Dzaboff. In the second quarter, Monticello found a receiver in the end zone and later made a field goal. MV came back with a Dzaboff to Aaron Dzaboff five-yard TD pass.The half ended with Monticello leading, 13-12.In the second half, neither teamed scored until the fourth quarter when the Wildcats' Ryan Parmely found the end zone on a 16-yard run. Monticello scored a field goal, but was unable to make good on a recovered onside kick.Despite the back-and-forth game, Maquoketa Valley Coach  Wes Wilson said he had faith in this team.'These kids have been in some battles the last couple of years," he said. "This group never gets too high or too low. They always have the confidence that they will come back.'MV relied on its running game again with Parmely, Steve Huber and Trevlor Koopmann carrying the load.'We want to be able to run the football,' Wilson said. 'We spend a lot of time working on being physical and getting movement up front.'Defensively, Parmely and Tanner Hargrafen led in tackles with 13 each. Huber added 10.Wilson praised the Wildcat defense.'Our defense has been key to our success the last few years," he said. "They always seem to come up big when we need a stop.'This week the Wildcats host Clayton Ridge in a big district matchup.