Trojans top Comets, 29-20

Charles City drops first district game of the season to South Tama

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

TAMA — At times anomalies occur in the plus-minus turnovers to wins-losses paradigm where the team that doesn’t protect the ball still manages to pull out the victory.

On Friday against hosting South Tama, the Charles City Comets had four fumbles result in turnovers — one of which spoiled a first-and-goal opportunity; had another fumble cause a safety; had several ill-timed penalties flagged against them; and were burned several times on big pass plays.

Yet the Comets were in position to win the game until the final minute of regulation as the Trojans prevailed, 29-20.

The loss dropped the Comets to 1-2 overall for the season; South Tama improved to 2-1.

For both teams, it was their Class 3A-District 3 opener.

The Comets struck first with a 1-yard run by Tyreque Baker with 3:07 left in the first quarter. The play before, Charles City converted a fourth-and-4 situation with quarterback Mike Cranshaw finding Dylan Koresh coming out the backfield for a 24-yard pass play.

After being harassed by Charles City’s pass rush during most of the first half, Trojans quarterback Lane Koch was able to lead Nick Ryan in stride for a 75-yard touchdown pass that helped tie the game at 7 with 4:23 left in the half.

South Tama took advantage of one of the Comets’ turnovers and took the lead (13-7) on Mario Moncada’s 10-yard run with 5:16 left in the third.

It appeared that the Comets got those points right back when Elliott Sinnwell returned the ensuing kickoff 85 yards into the end zone only to have a block in the back nullify much of the return.

Soon after, Sinnwell returned a punt 65-yards into the red zone where the Comets later advanced to the Trojans’ 4-yard line. A fumble gave the ball back to the Trojans, but then the Trojans fumbled two plays later with Charles City junior Kelly Ward coming up with the ball at the bottom of the pile.

The next play, Baker scored his second TD of the game — this one from five yards out — that regained the lead for the Comets (14-13) with Derek Milligan’s PAT kick with 10:37 left in regulation.

It looked as if the night was going to end well for the Comets when linebacker Sam Niichel intercepted a Koch pass and —shedding would-be tacklers while refusing to go down — rambled 17 yards for his first touchdown of his high school varsity career.

That extended the Comets lead to 20-13 with 9:42 left in regulation.

Kock and Ryan hooked up for another big pass play on the ensuing possession that set up Moncada’s 7-yard TD that — with Cole Medina’s PAT kick — tied the game at 20 with 7:15 left.

A wayward pitch that resulted in Sinnwell being tackled in the end zone for a safety put the Trojans up 22-20 with 4:45 left.

Colton Vest’s 22-yard run around the end and his ensuing PAT kick capped the scoring with 57 seconds left.

Down by two possessions, Charles City managed to drive 65 yards down the field when Cranshaw completed 4 of 4 passes along the sidelines, but time expired with the Comets being held short of the goal line.

Cranshaw was 6 of 12 passing with 76 yards and an interception; and led the Comets with 67 rushing yards on 15 carries.

Baker had 55 yards on 13 carries, and Koresh caught four passes for 50 yards.

Koresh also led the Comets with 9 tackles.

Cade Hemesath had two solo sacks for Charles City.

The Comets will host undefeated and Class 3A fourth-ranked Xavier on Friday in another district game.

SOUTH TAMA 29, CHARLES CITY 20

Scoring By Quarters

CHARLES CITY 7 0 0 13 — 20

SOUTH TAMA 0 7 6 16 — 29

Scoring Summary

CC — Tyreque Baker 1-yard run (Derek Milligan PAT kick) 7-0, 3:07 1st

ST — Nick Ryan 75-yard pass from Lane Koch (Cole Medina PAT kick) 7-7, 4:23 2nd

ST — Mario Moncada 10-yard run (PAT kick failed) 13-7, 5:16 3rd

CC — Baker 5-yard run (Milligan PAT kick) 14-13, 10:37 4th

CC — Sam Niichel 17-yard interception return (PAT kick failed) 20-13, 9:42 4th

ST — Moncada 7-yard run (Medina PAT kick) 20-20, 7:15 4th

ST — Safety, 22-20, 4:45 4th

ST — Colton Vest 22-yard run (Vest PAT kick) 29-20, :57 4th