Van Meter rallies to defeat CLGLR, 24-21, in the 2A football state championship game

CEDAR FALLS — A goal-line stand decided the Class 2A state football championship game Friday at the UNI-Dome.

Second-ranked Van Meter took advantage of a botched snap by No. 1 Central Lyon/George-Little Rock on fourth-and-goal from the Bulldog 3 yard-line to hold off the Lions for a 24-21 victory.

The win gave Van Meter its third state championship in a row and ended CLGLR's repeat bid. Van Meter won the 1A state championship the previous two seasons.

"It's crazy," said Van Meter linebacker Porter Doggett. "Everyone doubted us after moving up a class. We didn't listen to that. We just kept on going."

CLGLR had first-and-goal at the Van Meter 8 with 20 seconds left. The Lions were able to move the ball only one yard on their first two plays, and then quarterback Reece Vander Zee found Drew Denekas for four yards to the 3-yard line.

But on fourth down with eight seconds remaining, a mis-timed snap got past Vander Zee and he had to fall on it. That gave Van Meter the ball and effectively ended the game.

"The defense, we just stuck together," said Van Meter linebacker John Braun. "When they were driving down the field we put a stop on the goal line."

Caleb Moore was the hero on offense for Van Meter.

With the Bulldogs trailing 21-17 in the fourth quarter, Moore caught a 21-yard reception on a cross over the middle on third-and-14 from the CLGLR 37 to get the ball in the red zone and keep the drive alive.

The route was a similar play that resulted in an interception during the third quarter. This time Van Meter quarterback Austin Baumhover timed the throw perfectly to hit Moore in stride.

"Caleb ran a great route and Austin waited a little bit longer," said Van Meter coach Eric Trudo. "We coached all of our players up and they went out, executed and made the play when it counted."

A few plays later Moore took a handoff from Baumhover on a receiver sweep and raced nine yards into the end zone for the eventual winning touchdown with 4:49 remaining.

"It's a roll-out, run-pass option," Trudo said. "Austin read it right, (Moore) got the ball and ran it in."

Moore had only one other touch the entire game. He ran the ball twice for 18 yards.

Baumhover completed 8 of 15 passes for 137 yards with one touchdown and one interception, and he ran for 16 yards and a first-half touchdown. Cael Trudo made four catches for 75 yards, Doggett caught two passes for 14 yards, including a 7-yard touchdown catch early in the fourth quarter.

Star Bulldog running back Ben Gordon picked up 107 tough yards on 27 carries.

Van Meter finished with a perfect 13-0 record

"It was a lot of effort for 13 weeks," Braun said. "We all had to come in every single day and put in the work."

CLGLR finished its season at 12-1.

"It was a tough battle, we just came up a little short today," said CLGLR coach Curtis Eben. "We're 25-1 over the last two years. Our seniors have done everything for this program. Those kids are winners, and they are going to be super successful in life."

CLGLR built a 21-10 lead on a 2-yard Graham Eben touchdown run on fourth-and-goal with 6:21 left in the third quarter. The Lions' first two scores came on 17-yard touchdown passes from Vander Zee to Eben and Matthew Dieren in the first half.

Vander Zee completed 12 of 15 passes for 116 yards and two scores. He also ran for 97 yards.

Eben had 141 yards rushing on 24 carries. Reide Folkens had four catches for 53 yards, Eben four for 35 and Dieren three for 24.

Joe Randleman covers high school sports for the Ames Tribune. Contact him at jrandleman@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JoeRandleman

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Van Meter tops CLGLR in the 2A Iowa football state championship game