IOWA – This time, Iowa found itself on the right side of a high-stakes game with Lake Charles College Prep, beating the Trailblazers 17-16 Friday night to remain unbeaten in District 3-3A play.

The loss eliminated the Blazers (3-5, 2-2) from the district race, ending their streak of four seasons winning at least a share of the title.

Iowa (7-1, 5-0) will play St. Louis Catholic on Thursday in a battle of district unbeatens. A win will give the Yellow Jackets the outright district title, while St. Louis can clinch a share of the title with a win and can claim the title outright with a victory over Jennings in Week 10.

Last year Prep clinched the title with a 27-26 win in Iowa.

This time around the Yellow Jackets controlled possession with their ground game, running for 336 yards. Ronald Young had 36 carries for 261 yards.

Despite Iowa’s production, the lead changed hands five times as Prep answered both Yellow Jackets touchdowns with one of their own.

Young opened the scoring with a 1-yard run in the second quarter. Prep answered with a 4-yard touchdown run and 2-point conversion by Josiah Bushnell.

Iowa regained the lead in the third quarter when Johnathan Walker took an option pitch 28 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown. Prep answered again, this time with Bushnell escaping pressure in the pocket before launching a 51-yard touchdown pass to Eric Beloney. Bushnell’s 2-point run gave Prep a 16-14 lead going into the fourth quarter.

Iowa produced the lone score in the final quarter, driving 48 yards to the Blazers 7. Matthew Vest drilled a 25-yard field goal — his first of the season — to put the Jackets ahead for good with 6 minutes left.

Yellow Jackets head coach Tommy Johns said he didn’t hesitate to send Vest out.

“He makes them every day in practice,” Johns said. “He came through clutch right there. We blocked it well and had a good snap. We had complete faith he could do it.”

Prep turned the ball over on downs without gaining a first down on the ensuing possession. From there, Iowa ran out the clock with Young running 5 times for 26 yards.

Bushnell threw for 101 yards and ran for 63 to lead the Blazers.

Johns said Prep’s pedigree made the win a big one.

“It’s been a long time coming; we’ve been close,” he said. “Give credit to them, they have a hell of a team year in and year out. Our kids wanted it pretty bad.”

The Jackets turned the ball over four times in the first three quarters.

“We were trying to make some plays there,” Johns said. “We knew we were going to have to against those guys.

“You have to figure out ways to get creative and make plays. In the end, we were able to do that.

“I couldn’t be prouder of our defense. (Prep) has players all over the place. You have to mix it up against them. We tried to show them different things. We were misaligned a few times and they made us pay for it.”

Johns said his team showed maturity.

“Tonight we learned how to finish,” he said. “We know we are capable of playing with anyone. No one gave us a chance, everyone wrote us off after losing 21 seniors from last year. Everyone but the people who mattered.”