The Bobcats dropped to 1-6 overall and 1-2 in 5A District 4.

Ames quarterback Cameron Cantonwine scored six touchdowns behind a straight-forward rushing attack that rolled up a 34-6 lead by halftime.

“In my eyes, it’s obvious, they were just more physical than us,” MHS head coach Adam Goodvin said. “… They had big guys up front, and our kids were fighting, but when guys are significantly bigger than you, it’s really hard.”

The Bobcats often provided Ames with short fields in the first half as well, including some short punts and an interception return that set up the Little Cyclones with ideal spots to execute their offense.

T-R PHOTO BY ROSS THEDE - Marshalltown senior running back Tate Riang stiff-arms Ames defensive back Lane Kenny (3) during Friday’s football game. Riang rushed for 63 yards to lead the Bobcats in defeat.

Davis Ragland provided a bright spot before halftime with a 48-yard interception return for a touchdown, the junior leaping to pick off Cantonwine and beating the Ames quarterback on the way back for the score.

“He’s a gamer, a very, very tough kid,” Goodvin said. “We ask a lot out of him, he’s got a heavy load, and we’re glad to see that pay off. He’s a smart kid and one of our leaders.”

Cantonwine punched in his sixth touchdown in the third quarter.

Marshalltown’s offense got on the board in the fourth quarter on a 30-yard passing play from Jacob Hayes to Cory Smith.

Hayes was 7-of-17 passing with a touchdown, two interceptions and 82 total passing yards. Caleb Kusserow had two catches for a total of 30 yards and grabbed a two-point conversion pass from Hayes after the Smith score. Tate Riang added 15 carries for 63 yards in the rushing game.

T-R PHOTO BY ROSS THEDE - Marshalltown junior Xayvion Anderson (1) eludes Ames defender Roger Lopez (40) while looking to throw the halfback pass during Friday’s football game at Leonard Cole Field.

The physicality of the game also resulted in a handful of Bobcats getting banged up, including senior Treshaun Brooks who went down in the first half and was on crutches in the second half.

“This is the first time all season where we’ve had that,” Goodvin said. “That’s not an ideal scenario but we’ll rest up this weekend, have our trainer check the guys out and evaluate and go from there.”

The Bobcats step out of district play on the road against Des Moines Lincoln next week. The Railsplitters (3-4) lost to Sioux City East on Thursday, 45-18.

“We’ve got to continue to be resilient,” Goodvin said. “Our record could be flipped right now but we’d still get back to work on Monday. I know this situation is in the back of our kids’ heads right now, but we’ll get over it, move on, and continue to get better on Monday.”

T-R PHOTO BY ROSS THEDE - Marshalltown junior linebacker Davis Ragland (18) is congratulated by head coach Adam Goodvin after returning an interception 48 yards for a touchdown in Friday’s football game.