Senior defensive back Jacob Mohrfeld made four tackles, blocked a field goal and intercepted a pass to help the Ankeny football team to a 10-7 victory over Ankeny Centennial in the Class 5A semifinals on Friday at the UNI-Dome.
For the season, Mohrfeld has racked up 36.5 tackles for the 9-3 Hawks, including 28 solo stops. He has recorded six interceptions, which is tied for the lead in Class 5A and tied for the 12th-most among all classes.
Here is some inside info on Mohrfeld:
Congratulations on the win over Centennial. How did you celebrate the victory?
We celebrated the win by eating pizza on the bus.
Did coach Jeff Bauer give you guys some time to enjoy the win, or did he want you to start focusing on your next opponent right away?
Our coaches always say win or lose, we have 24 hours to reflect on the game then move on to the next week. We had Saturday off to do so.
You blocked a field goal in the first quarter to prevent the Jaguars from taking an early lead. Can you describe what happened on that play?
When they decided to bring out their kicking unit, I told myself I was going to block the kick. The first thing I thought of was to get a good jump and come tight off the edge. After getting a good jump, I knew I was going to be in a good position to block it.
You later picked off a pass for one of your team’s three interceptions in the game and nearly returned it for a touchdown. Do you just have a knack for being in the right place at the right time, or do you attribute a lot of your picks to studying film and knowing what your opponents are trying to do?
I would say some interceptions come with being in the right place at the right time, but watching film definitely makes it easier to be in the right place.
One of the biggest storylines of the game was the absence of Centennial running back Elijah Porter, who was hospitalized in Cedar Falls with an appendicitis. When did you find out that he would not be playing, and did that change your defensive strategy at all?
We heard rumors of him not playing before the game, but no one believed them. We first figured it out when we did not see him warming up during pregame. Nothing changed for us defensively–we stuck to the game plan, and that definitely worked out.
Your defense has really peaked in the postseason, allowing a total of just 23 points in three games under first-year defensive coordinator Todd McGhghy. What has he brought to the program this year?
Coach McGhghy has brought an immense amount of hard work and knowledge to this team. His understanding of the game really shows how hard he works for this team.
Your team will now play top-ranked Southeast Polk in Friday’s championship game at 7 p.m. What will be the key to slowing down the Rams, who posted a 58-21 victory at Ankeny on Sept. 1?
The keys for slowing down Southeast Polk’s offense are pressuring the quarterback, not letting him get comfortable in the pocket and limiting big plays and getting off the field on third downs.
Southeast Polk quarterback Connor Moberly completed 16-of-25 passes for 272 yards and five touchdowns in that earlier game. How important will it be to put some pressure on Moberly to prevent him from getting too comfortable in the pocket?
Putting pressure on (Moberly) will definitely play a big role in this game as that will make it very tough for him to make the plays he’s capable of making.
Southeast Polk’s top two receivers are Sam Zelenovich and Carson Robbins, who have combined to make 106 catches for 1,657 yards and 18 touchdowns. What challenges do those two players present for your defense?
You definitely need to know where those two receivers are on the field at all times and limiting them from getting out in space and over the top.
The Rams are seeking a third consecutive championship. If your team can knock them off, how much sweeter will it be for you to win the title while dethroning them at the same time?
Not only will winning the game be magical, but putting an end to Southeast Polk’s run will definitely add a lot of excitement, especially for coach Bauer’s first year.
Are you planning to play in college? Have you looked at any schools?
I’m not sure if I’m planning to play at the next level. I’m seeing what opportunities I could get in the near future.
