'Cats pull out win over Bellevue

Football

   A blocked punt set up the winning touchdown, as the Maquoketa Valley football team pulled out a 22-20 victory over Bellevue Sept. 16 in Delhi.

   Trailing 20-14, the Wildcats (2-0, 3-1) blocked a punt and recovered it at the Bellevue 25-yard line, and scored four plays later on a three-yard run by Lance McShane. MV also scored on a two-point conversion to take the lead.

   An interception by Tate Intorf deep in MV territory on the game’s final play sealed the win for the Wildcats.

   “We did a lot of positive things to come away with a win,” MV coach Trevor Arnold said. “Most of all, we kept going. Our attitude and effort were there for four quarters, and that put us in a position to win the game.”

   McShane rushed for 220 yards and all three MV touchdowns, on 26 carries.

   Defensively, Dylan Knipper led the team with 13.5 tackles, and Aidan Salow had 12. Carter Klaren and Salow recovered Bellevue fumbles.

Volleyball

   A Tri-Rivers Conference match and a tournament kept the Maquoketa Valley volleyball team in action last week.

   MV (5-13) lost at Central City Sept. 15, by scores of 18-25, 19-25, 25-17, 23-25. The visitors had 39 total kills, led by Haley Ronnebaum with 11, Leah Reicher with 10 and Grace Richter with eight. Kennedy Rausch made 17 assists, and Keira Leytem had 11. Defensively, Lili Bauers had 14 digs and Bianka Ronnebaum had 11. Haley Ronnebaum had four blocks.

   Maquoketa Valley then competed in the West Delaware Invitational Sept. 17, winning two of five matches.

   The Wildcats started out with a 17-21, 12-21 loss to Vinton-Shellsburg. Haley Ronnebaum and Lanni Beaman each had five kills. Rausch had eight assists. Bauers had 11 digs. Jada Knipper served two aces.

   Against Independence, MV lost 18-21, 16-21. Dig leaders were Knipper with six and Bauers with four. Haley Ronnebaum had four kills.

   Next, MV defeated Starmont 21-12, 21-14. Rausch had 10 assists. Bauers had 13 digs. Bianka Ronnebaum and Richter each served three aces.

   MV also defeated Edgewood-Colesburg, 21-10, 21-7. Haley Ronnebaum and Beaman had five kills apiece. Bauers had eight digs. Reicher had four blocks.

   The Wildcats then lost to West Delaware 10-21, 11-21. Beaman had four kills. Rausch had five assists, and Leytem had three. Bauers had nine of the team’s 26 digs; Bianka Ronnebaum had five.

Cross country

   MaquoketaValley competed in the Cascade Invitational cross country meet Sept. 15 at Fillmore Fairways.

   The Wildcat boys finished ninth in the field of 16 teams, with 238 points. They were led by Matthew Schaul, who was 17^th overall in 18:28.6. Arion Rave placed 29^th in 19:06.8. They were followed by George Livingston, 32^nd in 19:09.8; Toby Grimm, 92^nd in 21:28.9; and Kenyon Baker, 101^st in 21:56.9.

   MV’s girls finished 11^th. Taryn Burbridge placed 12^th in 22:01.6, Isabel Imler was 43^rd in 24:22.5, McKenna Bush was 111^th in 30:28.1, Allison Hogan was 126^th in 32:05.8, and Keeley Recker was 128^th in 32:48.3.

   “The placings were good in that most of the teams in the meet were 2A and 3A teams, whereas the Wildcats are 1A,” Maquoketa Valley coach Pat Meehan said.