While the Bobcats were trying to get even, so was Fort Dodge.

The Dodgers (3-1) rallied from a 14-0 deficit thanks to a half-ending Hail Mary and more from its big-play passing attack after the intermission, as Fort Dodge leveled the all-times series with Marshalltown at 26-26-1 after Friday’s 35-28 thriller at Leonard Cole Field.

Fort Dodge ended an 11-play, 55-yard drive with a fourth-and-goal touchdown from the 18-yard line, as junior quarterback Carson Peterson dropped the go-ahead score into the outstretched arms of Javion Jondle with 2 minutes, 49 seconds left in the game.

Marshalltown (1-3) got the ball back — twice, in fact — but both possessions ended with turnovers. The last drive, which advanced all the way to Fort Dodge’s 18-yard-line, ended with Sam Daniel’s second interception on a ball intended for Bobcat tight end Carson Williams in the end zone.

T-R PHOTO BY ROSS THEDE

It was the last of three turnovers (all in the second half) for the Bobcats, who also committed 74 yards worth of penalties and suffered their second-straight narrow defeat at home.

“We were in the red zone, 19 yards off the goal line and we were trying to work for it,” said MHS senior fullback Patrick Landeros. “Last year they took our spot in the playoffs so we wanted revenge, and we came out here and busted our butts off to try to get the win. It came down to the last second, we just couldn’t get it done.

“I still have faith in my guys and we can come back next week and take a victory.”

Marshalltown managed to keep the faith throughout a game filled with adversity, much of it self-inflicted once again. The Bobcats marched the game’s opening possession 75 yards before Landeros capped it with a 5-yard touchdown dash, and MHS made it 14-0 late in the second quarter on a 5-yard TD run by Malik Haynes.

The Bobcats came up empty with another drive into Fort Dodge territory before turning the ball over on downs at the Dodger 29 with 44.5 seconds left. But the Dodgers, will a full complement of timeouts remaining, made their way into MHS territory after a late hit penalty on what should have been the final play of the first half.

T-R PHOTO BY ROSS THEDE

With its free, untimed down, Fort Dodge heaved a 45-yard Hail Mary from Peterson to Daniel that provided the Dodgers with newfound life.

They rode the wave into the third quarter, coming out of the break with a 64-yard drive that needed only four plays to reach paydirt. Peterson’s second of five touchdown passes connected with Tyler Schreier for 14 yards and got Fort Dodge to within one after a bad snap on the extra-point attempt.

The tidal wave grew bigger after a three-and-out by the Bobcat offense, and Fort Dodge finished off another drive with a Peterson-to-Schreier pass that covered 23 yards on fourth-and-3.

Suddenly down 19-14, Marshalltown stemmed the tide on the ensuing kickoff as Deonte Dean found a hole in the Dodgers’ pursuit and broke free for a 95-yard touchdown return.

Another personal foul penalty prolonged Fort Dodge’s next drive and Peterson made MHS pay with his fourth touchdown pass, hooking up with Schreier again from 31 yards out.

T-R PHOTO BY ROSS THEDE

Even after turning the ball over on their next drive, the Bobcats persisted. After a fumble gave the ball back to Fort Dodge, Marshalltown’s defense held strong and retrieved possession once again near midfield. Haynes finished the drive with a 9-yard touchdown run, and Jake Vaughn’s extra-point kick gave MHS a 28-27 advantage with 7:09 remaining in the game.

The Dodgers’ go-ahead drive capitalized on a face mask penalty and an offsides call on fourth-and-2, and overcame a quarterback sack by Austin Close on third-and-goal from the 11. Peterson calmly connected with Jondle on fourth down for what would prove to be the game-winning touchdown.

“We had plenty of chances, plenty of opportunities,” said MHS head coach Adam Goodvin. “I thought our mental mistakes were much better than last week — they were still there clearly — but the kids played hard. I told them again, I have not once questioned their heart and effort. Fort Dodge is tough, but our kids are tough too.”

The Bobcats’ final possession picked up 45 yards in just 49 seconds without any timeouts, as Bates found Williams twice and John Loney once along the way. But the last gasp by Marshalltown wasn’t enough to get over the top.

“We’re kind of at a crossroads now,” Goodvin said. “We’re 1-3 and this last stretch is really going to test us for sure, but every single day we talk about how you respond to adversity and I have no doubt we’ll be fine.

T-R PHOTO BY ROSS THEDE

“It’s a weird feeling. It’s hard to be too upset, we’re right there and these kids are so competitive — I have no doubt we’ll come back out and go to work. No matter the outcome that’s our only option, we’re going to move forward and we’re going to get better.”

Bates finished 17-for-32 passing for 127 yards with two interceptions, finding Loney nine times for 65 yards and Williams six times for 53 yards. Gannon Williams made two grabs for nine yards.

Landeros led the MHS rushing attack with 10 carries for 75 yards and a touchdown, while Haynes had 14 carries for 48 yards and two scores.

Peterson put Fort Dodge on his right shoulder, going 15-for-20 for 254 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions. Schreier made seven receptions for 109 yards and three scores, while Daniel had four catches for 98 yards and a TD.

Fort Dodge outgained the Bobcats 352-276 in total offense and won the turnover battle 3-1.

T-R PHOTO BY ROSS THEDE

“This is really going to test us, two close ones here back-to-back, but our kids are tough and super-competitive,” Goodvin said. “We’re going to have another gameplan and give ourselves an opportunity to win a football game. We’re hungry.”

The Bobcats go on the road for two of their final three regular-season games starting next Friday at Goodvin’s alma mater: Ottumwa.

“After the game everyone’s heads are down but coach gives his speech and lifts everyone’s spirits up and says ‘tomorrow you wake up, forget this game and it’s on to next week,'” Landeros said. “We need a win.”

Fort Dodge 35, Marshalltown 28

At Marshalltown

FD 0 7 20 8 — 35

MHS 7 7 7 7 — 28

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

MHS — Patrick Landeros 5 run (Jake Vaughn kick), 7:20.

Second Quarter

MHS — Malik Haynes 5 run (Vaughn kick), 5:15.

FD — Sam Daniel 45 pass from Carson Peterson (Gavin Schillerstrom kick), :00.

Third Quarter

FD — Tyler Schrier 14 pass from Peterson (run failed), 10:09.

FD — Schreier 23 pass from Peterson (run failed), 5:17.

MHS — Deonte Dean 95 kickoff return (Vaughn kick), 4:58.

FD — Schreier 31 pass from Peterson (Javion Jondle pass from Schreier), 2:21.

Fourth Quarter

MHS — Haynes 9 run (Vaughn kick), 7:09.

FD — Jondle 18 pass from Peterson (Jondle pass from Peterson), 2:49.

TEAM STATISTICS

FD MHS

First Downs 17 15

Rushes-yards 42-98 25-149

Passing yards 254 127

Comp-Att-Int 16-21-0 17-32-2

Total Offense 58-352 57-276

Fumbles-lost 4-1 1-1

Penalties-yards 10-66 9-74

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — FD: Dayson Clayton 25-78, Schreier 8-28, Peterson 4-15, Daniel 1-2, Jace Ulrich 1-(minus-4), TEAM 3-(minus-19); MHS: Landeros 10-75, Haynes 14-48, Gannon Williams 1-26.

PASSING — FD: Peterson 15-20-254-0, Clayton 1-1-0-0; MHS: Brendan Bates 17-32-127-2.

RECEIVING — FD: Schreier 7-109, Daniel 4-98, Jondle 3-44, Kaden Lynch 1-7, Clayton 1-(minus-4); MHS: John Loney 9-65, Carson Williams 6-53, G. Williams 2-9.

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