The ability of Marshalltown finding, corralling and trying to slow who is in jersey No. 18 for Iowa City High will carry a lot of weight in which trophy each respective team will hoist later tonight.
The fourth-ranked Bobcats tangle with No. 1 Iowa City High in a matchup of 13-0 teams for the Class 4A state football championship at 7:05 p.m. at the UNI-Dome.
The Little Hawks are led by senior quarterback A.J. Derby, that No. 18.
Derby has verbally committed to play at the University of Iowa and received offers from many top schools from across the country. The 6-foot-4, 223-pound Derby is listed as the top college prospect in the state for the Class of 2010 by ESPNU and also will play in the U.S. Army High School All-American game.
"There's no question he's very important," said Iowa City High head coach Dan Sabers. "Obviously at the quarterback position he has the ability to do a lot of things for us."
"He's a threat with his arm, he's a threat with his legs, that's a lot," Sabers added.
Derby has passed for 1,677 yards and 21 touchdowns, while gaining 707 rushing yards and scoring 14 times.
"When you watch him on film, he's like the high school version of Tim Tebow," said Marshalltown head coach Dave Holdiman, referencing the University of Florida Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback. "He's a big kid that runs well and can throw the ball. He's just an outstanding athlete that is a leader for them. I'd say it all starts with him."
The Little Hawks are more than a one-man show.
Running back Ellis Jordan is gaining 6.6 yards per carry and has 1,294 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. Wide receiver John Chelf is fourth in Class 4A with 1,013 receiving yards and second in touchdowns with 15. He is averaging an eye-popping 26 yards per catch on his 39 receptions.
"They are going to challenge every area of the field and they do it with the run and the pass," Holdiman said.
The Bobcats defensively are much improved and come into the matchup allowing 16.6 points per game. Marshalltown held Dowling, which had scored a 4A-best 515 points through 12 games, to a season-low 25 in the state semifinals.
Linebacker Jon Vance has a team-high 104.5 tackles (75 solos-59 assists) and five sacks on the year for MHS. Kyle Carnahan and Dalton Alexander are tied for second with 74.5 stops. Defensive back Cole Grewell has six interceptions to lead the team.
"I thought we played very well against Dowling defensively, we held them to about three touchdowns below their average," Holdiman said. "We played a very physical game as well, we matched them. We did a great job of standing in there and taking their best shot."
Derby is also a starting linebacker for the Iowa City High defense, and also has played end and safety.
The Little Hawks lead the state in defensive scoring average - 10.8 points per game.
Marshalltown is scoring 32.4 points per game on average, led by quarterback Chanse Creekmur.
Creekmur is second in Iowa high school history with his 3,316 passing yards in 12 games.
"Most certainly their quarterback sticks out," Sabers said. "There's no question about that, I'm very impressed with what he's done not only with his arm but with his legs.
"I think he had tremendous vision back there. I was also impressed with if he takes off, he still hasn't given up the option that he may throw the ball. We've got to make sure we're disciplined until he has crossed the line of scrimmage. Obviously their receiving corps is something that stands out as well."
Iowa City High is in search of its fourth state title, state champs three times in a four-year span in the mid-1990s. The Little Hawks were undefeated a year ago going into the playoffs, but were upset in the opening round.
"That was a very disappointing ending to a great season last year," Sabers said. "We were certainly determined to do the best we could to not let that happen again."
The Bobcat program had yet to win a state playoff game until this year. Marshalltown earned mythical state championships with 9-0 records three times in the 1940s - 1943, 1944 and 1947.
One of the wins for the Bobcats in 1944 was over Iowa City, the precursor to City High.