Daylen Boddie carried the ball six times on the opening drive of The Graphic Edge Bowl for the Iowa Central football team.

That series resulted in a touchdown for the Tritons and helped set the tone for what would become a 35-27 victory inside the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls over previously-unbeaten Monroe College.

Boddie ran for 96 yards on 20 carries, scoring two touchdowns on his way to being named offensive MVP of the game.

"It was very rewarding but I couldn't have done it without the team," Boddie said. "Without the offensive line and receivers blocking for me, I can't make those plays."

Iowa Central put a focus on running the football, racking up 128 yards on 46 carries. Those numbers helped the Tritons hold the ball for over 35 minutes of the game clock. That included plenty of carries for Boddie, which he says got him into the game-mode quicker. 

"The coaches wanted us to start off fast and keep them on their heels," Boddie said. "It helped a lot because I can get a feel for the defense. I just became comfortable on the field and was confident to make plays for my team."

He also finished strong, carrying the ball five times for 23 yards over the final quarter of play, helping Iowa Central maintain the lead. 

Boddie ended the year with a team-leading 717 yards rushing on 110 attempts, averaging 6.5 yards per carry. He scored seven touchdowns and did not lose a fumble, adding 27 receptions for 227 yards and three more scores and even throwing a 47-yard touchdown pass. 

In the spring, Boddie had 285 yards rushing and four scores while making 12 receptions for 89 yards. 

"I just need to keep pushing to be the best version of myself," Boddie said. "It is easy to give up, especially in JUCO, but I have a great support system from home and from my team."

As for finishing 9-2 with a bowl win over the sixth-ranked team, Boddie said it "feels great."

"We definitely deserved it," he added. "We didn't get the ranking we thought we should have gotten (coming in), but we didn't let that define who we are. We knew we had to go out there and handle business to show that we are one of the top teams in the country."

-By Dana Becker