CEDAR FALLS - Logic suggested the odds were against Cedar Falls in this one.

Fourth-ranked Cedar Rapids Washington strolled into Friday's Class 4A state semifinal supremely talented - and supremely confident after beating the Tigers by three scores earlier this season.

Yet, Cedar Falls' veteran coach Pat Mitchell seemed supremely confident this week. The foreman of the Tigers' football team knows seniors like Jay Brummel and Collin Albrecht provide a reliable work crew.

And on Friday, the Tigers worked overtime.

Jay Brummel battered Washington to the tune of 202 rushing yards, and Cedar Falls' workmanlike effort brought the Warriors' season to an end for a second straight season in a 27-19 Tiger triumph at the UNI-Dome.

"It feels so good. We want that title," said Brummel, whose sixth-ranked Tigers (12-1) secured their second state finals appearance in four years.

Said receiver Blake Davis, "We like to be the underdog; every team that's an underdog has something to prove."

"We kept our poise," said Mitchell, "and just hung in there. (The Tigers) are a consistent group. No egos - they just play."

This clash proved just how swiftly the pendulum can swing in the sport of football.

Washington appeared poised to punch in the go-ahead score with barely three minutes remaining. But, on a fourth-and-five at Cedar Falls' 25-yard line, the Warriors star quarterback, Wyatt Suess, succumbed to vice-grip pressure applied by Tigers linebacker Mike Schleusner, and barely got off a wounded-duck incompletion.

Two plays later, Cedar Falls' Brummel danced into the end zone on a 21-yard scoring jaunt.

Cedar Falls now clashes with top-ranked West Des Moines Valley (13-0) in the state title game. Valley, now averaging 41.8 points per game, ousted No. 5 Ankeny, 21-14 Friday.

Washington (11-2) arrived at the Dome with a host of eye-opening offensive assets - like a future Iowa Hawkeye (Keenan Davis) who rang up 16 receptions against Cedar Falls in last year's postseason.

But the Tigers brought ample ammo to this expected shootout, sporting the state's top scoring defense (8.4 points per game allowed). The Cedar Falls' defense bent but didn't completely buckle in the opening half, and went into the locker room tied at 13-all.

"I've gotta give our offense credit," Cedar Falls co-head coach Brad Remmert said. "They had some four and five-minute drives, and controlling the clock is what we needed."

Washington sports a stylish, spread offense. But Cedar Falls, typically more of a smash-mouth club, even threw a few four-wide receiver formations at their guests. That helped the Tigers take a 20-13 lead into the final 12 minutes.

The Warriors responded with a late, 18-yard scoring strike, but Washington kicker Trent Buchanan pushed the point-after attempt just wide, leaving the visitors behind, 20-19. The Warriors never recovered, as Davis was held to seven catches and zero scores.

"We just flew to the football," said Albrecht, who notched two tackles-for-loss in the second half.

As a result, Cedar Falls avenged one of its earlier losses. It can avenge an even bigger loss in next Friday's state title tilt. Cedar Falls lost 24-21 to Valley in the 2005 state title game, after taking an early 14-0 lead.

"They're tremendous," Mitchell said of the Valley Tigers. "They'll be the full load. We'll just go out, play our best, and see what happens."

Contact Kelly Beaton at (319) 291-1456 or kelly.beaton@wcfcourier.com

C.R. Washington 7 6 0 6 - 19

Cedar Falls 6 7 7 7 - 27

CRW - Andre Dawson 4 run (Trent Buchanan kick)

CF - Jay Brummel 7 run (kick blocked)

CRW - Dawson 1 run (kick failed)

CF - Blake Davis 21 pass from Kyle Bernard (Drew Gienau kick)

CF - Bernard 1 run (Gienau kick)

CRW - Ronnie Henderson 18 pass from Wyatt Suess (kick failed)

CF - Brummel 21 run (Gienau kick)

TEAM STATISTICS

CRW CF

First downs 18 17

Rushes-yards 21-96 49-337

Passing yards 265 56

Comp-Att-Int 20-35-1 5-8-0

Punts.-avg. 1-58.0 3-34.3

Return yards 58 46

Fumbles-lost 1-0 1-0

Penalties-yards 5-45 8-65

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing

C.R. WASHINGTON - Andre Dawson 14-67, Wyatt Suess 7-29

CEDAR FALLS - Jay Brummel 30-202, Aidan Brock 6-25, Kyle Bernard 13-110.

Passing

C.R. WASHINGTON - Suess 20-35-1, 265 yards.

CEDAR FALLS - Bernard 5-8-0, 56 yards.

Receiving

C.R. WASHINGTON - Dawson 7-100, Keenan Davis 7-106, Derek Giesking 4-43, Sam O'Donnell 1-11, Ronnie Henderson 1-18.

CEDAR FALLS - Blake Davis 2-23, Darion Howard 2-24, Brock 1-9.