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BETTENDORF, Iowa — Nearly every player in a Muscatine football uniform was covered in mud Friday night.

Regardless of how much dirt was caked on their skins and white jerseys, nothing could wipe the smile off their faces.

In a season filled with adversity, Muscatine saved its best for last with a 22-21 triumph over Pleasant Valley at PV High School.

“My mom won’t be mad to rinse this off,” junior defensive end Isaac Ales said pointing to his jersey.

After falling behind 21-6 late in the second quarter, the Muskies (2-7) reeled off 16 unanswered points in the second half, including Ozzy Carrillo’s 25-yard field goal with 50 seconds remaining for the game-winner.

In cold and damp conditions, PV (5-4) had an opportunity to prevail, but Alex Garbin’s 42-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left as time expired.

 Muscatine’s players erupted in jubilation, including several who dove in the mud to celebrate.

“This was, by far, the happiest mud I’ve been in,” receiver Jared Hetzler said.

“This was our best game we’ve had all season. It was amazing how well we did on both sides.”

Hetzler and quarterback Nick Garretson spearheaded the comeback.

After not having a catch in the opening half, Hetzler had seven grabs for 106 yards and two touchdowns. He also blocked a field goal early in the fourth quarter.

In particular, Muscatine had success with the bubble screen. Hetzler’s first TD — a 66-yard reception — came on that play.

“We got some plays made even in these bad conditions we haven’t made this year,” head coach Tony Napierala said. “Jared just kept his feet better than some other people.  It just shows the type of athlete he is. He had a huge game for us.”

Hetzler’s second score — a 4-yard run — cut PV’s lead to 21-19 with 1:35 left in the third quarter.

While Muscatine’s offense capitalized, the defense was dominant.

After allowing PV tailback Maurice Terrell to rush for 131 yards in the opening half, Terrell was stymied to 17 yards in the second half.

In fact, Muscatine held PV to 85 yards and just four first downs in the closing two quarters.

“We were possessed or something,” Ales said. “One person made a big play and then someone else. It was like a domino affect.”

Napierala said his team was in better position to make plays in the second half.

“They did some things we weren’t ready for,” he said, “but the kids responded well.

“Considering all the tough situations they had this week with the flu, the kids responded really well.”

After the defense forced its fourth three-and-out of the second half, Muscatine started its final drive on its own 2-yard line with 5:37 remaining in the contest.

“We knew we had to get it done right there,” said Garretson, who completed 21 of 33 passes for 222 yards. “I just kept telling the guys, ‘Believe. We can make it happen.’”

The Muskies pieced together a 14-play, 90-yard drive that consumed nearly five minutes of the clock.

Faced with a third-and-7 from its own 29, Garretson rolled out and found Jeff Failor for a 10-yard reception.

“That was a heck of a catch near the sideline,” Napierala said.

In addition, PV was whistled for a late hit on Garretson to move the Muskies into Spartan territory.

Then, with 2:44 left, Garretson took a quarterback draw 37 yards to get the Muskies inside the 10.

Four players later, Carrillo — who narrowly missed a game-winning field attempt against Davenport West two weeks ago — drilled the 25-yarder into a stiff wind.

“I’m really happy for him,” Napierala said. “It just shows the character of our kids.

“To go through a year like this and have that type of effort, it shows a lot about these kids.”

PV marched to MHS’ 24 before Garbin’s kick missed the mark.

It was the sixth time in the last 13 meetings that the teams’ game was decided by fewer than three points.

Garretson, who played his final game as a Muskie, tried to soak it in afterward.

“It stinks this is the last game,” Garretson said, “but it’s the best way it could have ended.”

Muscatine 22, Pleasant Valley 21

Muscatine         0     6   13   3 — 22

Pleasant Valley    14     7     0   0 — 21

First Quarter

PV — Josh Clifton 25 pass from Grant Lang (Alex Garbin kick), 7:44

PV — Maurice Terrell 18 run (Garbin kick), 4:53

Second Quarter

MHS — TJ Husar 13 pass from Nick Garretson (kick failed), 10:16

PV — Terrell 4 run (Garbin kick), 0:40

Third Quarter

MHS — Jared Hetzler 66 pass from Garretson (pass failed), 9:45

MHS — Hetzler 4 run (Ozzy Carrillo kick), 1:25

Fourth Quarter

MHS — Carrillo 25 field goal, 0:50

Team statistics

    MHS PV

First downs      12 15

Rushes-yards      21-62 52-174

Passing yards       222 67

Comp-Att-Int.      21-33-1 6-13-0

Punts-avg.      5-31.2 4-25.2

Return yards        0 4

Fumbles-lost         0-0 0-0

Penalties-yards      6-55 3-40

Individual statistics

Rushing

MUSCATINE — Nick Garretson 7-42, TJ Husar 8-16, Jared Hetzler 1-4, Tanner Bohling 5-0.

PLEASANT VALLEY — Maurice Terrell 34-148, Grant Lang 7-19, D.J. Steffen 8-17, Will McClure 1-1, Marshall DePover 1-(-2), Austin Blunk 1-(-9).

Passing

MUSCATINE — Garretson 21-33-1, 222 yards, 2 TDs.

PLEASANT VALLEY — Lang 6-13-0, 67 yards, TD.

Receiving

MUSCATINE — Hetzler 7-106, Griffen Gaeta 4-43, Husar 4-32, Bohling 5-31, Jeff Failor 1-10.

PLEASANT VALLEY — Josh Clifton 1-25, Andrew Swanson 1-22, Terrell 2-11, Brett Dixon 1-5, McClure 1-4.