Comets fall to Trojans 41-13

By John Burbridge
sports@charlescitypress.com
CHARLES CITY — When in doubt … punt.

And whenever facing a fourth-and-43 … that’s probably a good time to boot it away, also.

Midway through the third quarter of Charles City’s Homecoming Game against Waterloo East, the Comets — with a fierce pass rush prompting an intentional grounding and a sack made worse by a wrong-way scramble — managed to send the Trojans backwards after they crossed midfield for a fourth-and-nearly-half-a-football field snap.

The Trojans had taken a 14-0 lead at halftime, but the Comets came back with a stronger initial effort in the second half and appeared to be on the verge of seizing momentum and control.

But when Dylan Reyes’s subsequent punt took a good bounce along the sidelines while covering 56 yards, it pinned the Comets in the shadow of their own goal line. One play later, Charles City fumbled the ball. One play after that, Kjaun Owens scored from 2 yards out.

Soon after that turn of events, the game got away from the Comets as the Trojans eventually took a 34-0 lead deep into the fourth quarter before winning 41-13.

The win adjusted both teams’ overall records to 2-3. It was also the first Class 3A-District 3 game for both teams.

Owens also had a 28-yard TD run and rushed for a game-high 97 yards on nine carries.

While directing a type of offense reminiscent to the “run and shoot” that was popular in the NFL during the 1990s, senior Reyes completed 11 of 21 passes for 105 yards, including TD passes to Tyrell Newman from 8 yards out to open the scoring, and Ramir Scott from 30 yards out to help give the Trojans their halftime lead.

Scott also had a 82-yard kickoff return TD late in the game.

Reyes also had 43 yards rushing and was able to scramble out of trouble on many occasions aside from the time he initiated the fourth-and-43.

It wouldn’t have been a Comet football game if there wasn’t at least one highlight complements from sophomore Ian Collins, who put his team on the board with a 78-yard kickoff return with less than 5 minutes left in regulation.

Collins nearly scored on the opening kickoff while putting his team deep into Trojan territory. But a turnover turned away the early threat.

Comet junior Trever Heitz had 92 yards on 11 carries. He currently leads the team with 465 rushing yards through five games.

For Charles City sophomore Trimel Christian, Friday was his “breakout game” as he managed to find passage along the sidelines for a 57-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter.

To start the second half, Christian was able to run down a Trojan kick returner who tried to reverse the field only to get dragged down inside the 10-yard line.

The play appeared to inspire the Comets’ defense as it pushed the Trojans back even more before forcing a punt from the back of the end zone which gave Charles City the ball at the Waterloo East 35-yard line.

But the Comets were unable to capitalize when turning the ball over.

Collins was credited with a team-leading 10 solo tackles, and he also had an interception.

Heitz was credited with nine solo tackles, including two for losses.

The Comets will travel to Decorah next Friday (Oct. 4). The Vikings are also 2-3 overall but are coming off two straight wins including Friday’s 30-7 victory over Waverly-Shell Rock.

WATERLOO EAST 41,
CHARLES CITY 13
Scoring By Quarters
WATERLOO EAST 7 7 7 20 — 41
CHARLES CITY 0 0 0 13 — 13
Scoring Summary
WE — Tyrell Newman 8-yard pass from Dylan Reyes (Dakota Albright kick) 7-0, 6:37 1st
WE — Ramir Scott 30-yard pass from Reyes (Albright kick) 14-0, 6:57 2nd
WE — Kjaun Owens 2-yard run (Albright kick) 21-0, 4:53 3rd
WE — Owens 28-yard run (Albright kick) 28-0, 7:07 4th
WE — Chase Niles 52-yard interception return (Pass failed) 34-0, 5:04 4th
CC — Ian Collins 78-yard kickoff return (Kaleb Byers kick) 34-7, 4:48 4th
CC — Trimel Christian 57-yard run (Pass failed) 34-13, 2:06 4th
WE — Scott 82-yard kickoff return (Albright kick) 41-13, 1:52 4th