IOWA CITY — Iowa City High needed a jolt midway through the second quarter last night. As the Little Hawks have done all year, it called on quarterback A.J. Derby and wide receiver John Chelf to provide them with one.

With a seven-point lead and facing a second and 6 at the Dubuque Hempstead 41, the Little Hawks ran a play-action fake against the boxed-in Hempstead defense. Derby then hit Chelf up the right sideline, past Hempstead cornerback Alex Brown for a 41-yard touchdown pass and a two-touchdown lead. The top-ranked Little Hawks maintained its momentum to beat the Mustangs 24-7 at Bates Field in a Class 4A state first-round game.

“We felt we could get them over the top on a play action, so we just called it,” Chelf said. “A.J. threw a good ball over the defender right into my hands and right in the end zone.”

“They kind of switch up their defenses but he (Brown) was playing up tight,” Derby said. “We ran a play action and got it over the top and got a touchdown.”

Hempstead stacked the line to stop the Little Hawks’ running attack, which led to the play call and, ultimately, the touchdown.

“Obviously, we’re a power team,” Iowa City High Coach Dan Sabers said. “If teams are going to (stack the line), hey, we’ve got John Chelf out there one-on-one against guys. John’s pretty good. So we feel very fortunate to have that situation, and A.J. throws a deep ball as good as anybody.”

Iowa City High overpowered Hempstead (8-3) along both lines of scrimmage. Hempstead gained only 75 yards until its final drive, which took the Mustangs down the field 70 yards for a 10-yard touchdown run by Jason Lewis with 17 seconds left.

Iowa City High’s Jasper Washington intercepted a Matt Ehlers pass on the game’s third play, and the Little Hawks scored seven plays later on Ellis Jordan’s 5-yard plunge. The Little Hawks put the game out of reach on its first drive of the third quarter, which lasted 12 plays and went 75 yards. Derby hit Noah Cmiel for 17 yards to put Iowa City High ahead 24-0.

Derby, who is committed to play at Iowa, completed 11 of 18 passes for 113 yards. Eight of his completions went to different receivers. He also rushed for 38 yards on 10 carries. Jordan led the Little Hawks with 83 yards on 15 carries. Chelf caught two passes for 45 yards.

Iowa City High (11-0) hosts Cedar Rapids Washington (9-2) at 7 p.m. Friday in a state quarterfinal. The Little Hawks beat Washington 65-21 at Bates Field in September.

Contact the writer (319) 339-3169 or scott.dochterman@gazcomm.com