Linn-Mar wins 4th straight to upset No. 5 Cedar Falls 21-13

MARION - Duane Orr sensed something as his team headed to the locker room at halftime.

The first-year Linn-Mar coach watched his team pretty much get dominated by No. 5 Cedar Falls during the first half of Friday night's game at Linn-Mar Stadium.

"I told the kids at halftime, 'Guys, we are this close,'" he said. "(Cedar Falls) had the momentum for most of the first half and we were still right there. I told them we get the ball coming out after halftime and if we can put points on the board, it's a whole new game."

Orr's players took the message to heart. Sophomore Derek Roling connected with senior Chase Bradley on a 49-yard scoring pass on that first drive. Then in the fourth quarter, Roling directed a masterful 68-yard drive over the final five minutes, capping it on a QB sneak with 32 seconds to play as the Lions went on to upset the Tigers, 21-13.

"We just kept wearing them down," Orr said. "This group of kids has responded so well and that shows the commitment that they have made."

Linn-Mar started the season 0-4 and now has won four straight.

"It's the hard work we put in every single day," said junior Holden Heideman, who capped off the win with an 18-yard return of a Cedar Falls lateral on the first play following Roling's go-ahead score. "We come to practice ready to roll. Coach Orr and the whole staff have been fantastic. He was always there for us, even when we were 0-4 and now we're 4-4."

Coach Brad Remmert's Tigers (6-2) were riding a six-game winning streak and, early on, appeared to be in control. In the first half, the Lions had little success moving the ball against a stout defense. Leyton Wolf hit Will Remmert on a 10-yard fade pass for what turned out to be the only touchdown of the night for Cedar Falls just before the end of the first quarter.

Then, just before the half, Cael Harms hit a 43-yard field goal to give the Tigers a 10-0 lead at the break.

The second half was Roling's time to shine. Orr inserted him into the starting line-up for a Week 3 game against Iowa City Liberty. His steady play has been a key component in the Lions resurgence.

"Hard work," Roling said when asked what has led to his good results. "When you work hard, good things can happen."

After hitting Bradley to cut the margin to 10-7, it looked like the Lions had a break it needed when Tate McEowen appeared to pick off a deflected Wolf pass in the end zone. Officials ruled it incomplete and it led to a 30-yard field goal from Harms to make it 13-7.

"That was big that we were able to hold them out of the end zone," Orr said. "Being able to keep it a one-score game was very important."

Both defenses stood tall until the Lions took over after a punt with just over five minutes to play.

Roling said the plan was simple

"I'm just thinking we need to go down and get a score," he said. "We didn't get much offense going during the game, but we knew we could do it. We believed in each other and pushed the ball down the field."

The Lion offense did nothing spectacular on the drive, simply executing and moving the chains. Roling had a big run down near the goal line to set up the winning score.

Cedar Falls attempted a hook and lateral play on the first play after the kickoff that ended up in Heideman 's hands and he ran in untouched for the score.

Next Friday, the Tigers close the regular season at home against Cedar Rapids Jefferson. Linn-Mar will be on the road at Iowa City West with a playoff berth still a possibility.

Heineman's thoughts about meeting the Trojans?

"Respect many, fear none."