Marshalltown’s 15-9 loss to Mason City on Friday night is going to sting, but only for a little while. That’s because head coach Don Knock and the Bobcats (0-2) are only going to let it last the weekend.

With a plethora of opportunities to put the Mohawks (2-0) away, the Bobcats came up empty handed all but once – a safety in the fourth quarter to cut the lead to just six points.

“We’re a young team and we’ve got to continue to grow,” Knock said. “We grew a little bit tonight and especially in the second half. The kids accepted the challenge I put in front of them at halftime. We were just stupid in the first half, and you can’t be stupid and win football games.”

The Bobcats found their first touchdown in the third quarter, a keeper from the 2-yard line by quarterback Sam Irwin. The junior starter was 15-for-31 with 176 yards passing and two interceptions. He also rushed for a net of two yards on 15 carries.

However, it was punter Jacob Streeter who gave the Marshalltown offense, which amassed 198 yards – 10 more than Mason City – six full-fledged opportunities in the fourth quarter.

Streeter booted the ball a total of eight times Friday night, including a long of 43 yards and pinning the Mohawks deep in their own territory. In their last six drives, the Mohawks started at their own 14, 14, 5, 10, 18 and 4-yard line, resulting in three punts, an interception – Reese Hageman’s second of the season, a fumble recovered by senior Maddux Richardson and a safety. Yet, the offense struggled to find the one score to put the Bobcats ahead.

“The lack of our running game is our Achilles heel,” Knock said. “We’ve got to find our running game. Marques [Haynes] got cramps and had other guys we should’ve had in there and we didn’t. It’s a growth thing and we’re trying to get it figured out.”

Haynes rushed for 23 total yards on 11 carries. He led the Bobcats in rushing, which only tallied 22 total rushing yards. Mason City, using an option running game for most of the game, totaled 95 rushing yards.

A 75-yard punt return, followed by the sequence of an Irwin fumble and a 32-yard touchdown pass and 2-point conversion, put the lead and momentum in the Mohawks hands.

The Bobcats’ defense, however, paired with Streeter’s uncanny punting ability, held the Mohawks to no points in the second half and just four completions all night.

“Our defense grew,” Knock said. “We had some really good things happen defensively. But we caught some passes, but until we look at tape, it’s hard to tell.”

Penalties piled up against the Mohawks, helping keep drive after drive alive for the Bobcats.

Maybe one of the biggest game changers was a pass interference with under 30 seconds remaining. A fade to receiver Josh Melde in the corner of the end zone was broken up early, before the ball got to him, giving the Bobcats 1st-and-goal from the 6-yard line. A sack followed by a spike with .3 seconds left the Bobcats with one final heave.

It went out of the back of the end zone, intended for Reid Nennig.

The Bobcats will travel to Waterloo East next Friday, ready as they were for Mason City the week prior. For Knock and Co. it’s about hard work that will help the Bobcats persevere through the sour taste left over from the one that got away.

“We just keep working,” Knock said. “We have another game next week, and the kids have to come back ready to work. And that will start tomorrow morning.”

Marshalltown kicks off against Waterloo East at 7:15 p.m at Memorial Stadium.