T-R GRAPHIC

The Marshalltown football team will host pass-heavy Ames for Homecoming week.

Winless Ames comes off a 28-25 loss to rival Iowa City High after failing to stage a 21-3 comeback, while the Bobcats enter Week 4 with a familiar 3-0 record they had a season ago.

“They have had a tough stretch here at the beginning of the year,” Goodvin said. “But they are a well-coached team. They have got some athletes so it’ll be a fun game and a challenge. They are tops in the state in 4A with attempts and completions. That’s what they are comfortable doing. It’ll be a good challenge for our defensive backs.”

The most glaring stat about the Little Cyclones is their devotion to the passing game. Ames senior quarterback Cooper Downs leads Class 4A in attempts with 118 and is second in completions with 65 on the season. In addition, Downs has thrown three touchdowns and three interceptions and has run for an additional 36 yards (through two games).

“[Downs] played last year as a junior,” Goodvin said. “He has a very strong arm. He’s a smart kid. They wouldn’t be throwing the ball around if they didn’t have a lot of confidence in him and I can see why they do so hopefully we can keep him under control. He definitely looks to throw first. By no means is he a pocket passer only. He definitely can hurt us with the legs if he sees a hole there. He’ll tuck it down and run and get some positive yards for sure.”

For Goodvin, the goal and preparation for his secondary is the same it has been for each week.

“The message we send our guys is that we have to get better every single day,” Goodvin said. “That message hasn’t changed. After watching film from last Friday, we know they have to get better and that’s our goal. We just hope that we can execute our gameplan for this week.”

Despite the passing numbers, Ames has registered only 38 rushing attempts through two games, with Downs being the team’s leading rusher.

“I think their strong suit is definitely throwing the football and I think they will look to try and be more successful on the ground and we’re aware of that,” Goodvin said. ‘We just have to play disciplined football.

“The running back is a junior who on film looks to be a talented athlete. I find it hard to believe that they don’t want to run the ball at all but I think they feel comfortable with Downs at quarterback and they have some senior receivers that they want to get the ball to.”

At wide receiver, the Little Cyclones have eight different receivers with at least five catches. Their leading receiver is Johnah Strawhacker, who has 17 catches going for 211 yards and two touchdowns. Just behind Strawhacker is Gabe Ante, who through two games has logged 17 catches for 138 yards.

“They have a couple of good receivers,” Goodvin said. “Both a couple of seniors. They are back again so their quarterback is familiar with them I’m sure. They have worked a lot of football together so he has a lot of guys that he likes to go to. They have a couple of running backs that they will use in the passing game as well so we have to be disciplined, make our reads and make plays.”

Defensively, according to Goodvin, Ames has shown different defenses as they have had as many as five defensive backs on the field at once.

“They mix some things up coverage-wise,” Goodvin said. “Front-wise based off what they played against Iowa City High they had a four-[man] front and would walk down a couple of defensive backs. [They] even made it five at times against Fort Dodge who likes to throw the ball around and run a three-front — that way they have a three-front for pass coverage.”

Overall, the Little Cyclones have a young defense that is highlighted by Ames allowing 36 points per game.

“I know their defense is young,” Goodvin said. “They are a young group of guys with not a lot returning. I know they are working hard every week to improve and I think everyone knows that. We have to improve offensively so we can have some more success.”

For Marshalltown, the game plan will remain much of the same which is to develop a run game and from there decide what will work best for them.

“I don’t think our approach changes a lot,” Goodvin said. “We are going in there to try and develop a run a successful run game just like normal. We are going to go with what’s working in what we feel is going to be most successful for our kids to be put in position to win the ball game.”

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on Friday at Leonard Cole Field.