Reivers Strike Gold Early and Often, Defeat Silver Storm to Set Up Top 5 Matchup

Council Bluffs, IA

If there were any doubts about the Reivers' ability to weather a storm Saturday, it didn't take long to resolve them.  Iowa Western punched in their first opportunity of the game and followed with a barrage of other scores to rout ASA-Miami, 51-6, in front of a Homecoming crowd at Titan Stadium. 

Starting quarterback Nate Glantz found tight end Jalen Gaudet from five yards out for the Reivers first score of the game after a punting miscue by the Silver Storm gave the Reivers a first and goal from the visitors eight-yard line.  The Reivers total offensive yards would reflect the advantageous field position they started in all game, finishing with only 297 yards offense on the day, much of it coming in the first half before the reserves played out the second half with a restricted playbook.

"I thought we did a good job of taking advantage of short fields, coming away with points was crucial," said Head Coach Scott Strohmeier. "The defense and special teams were outstanding and the offense didn't waste any of it.  We came to do a job today and got it done quickly and efficiently."

1ST HALF SCORING DRIVES

After the initial strike to Gaudet, the scoring came in a flourish, Dennis Fisher and Ben Radicia blocked a punt out of the back of the endzone for a safety.  On the ensuing free kick, Wyatt Rhomer returned the ball 40-yards to the ASA 30 and Glantz rushed in two plays later after finding Kaden Wetjen on a beautiful over-the-shoulder catch to set up the score. 

Transfer tight end C.J. Horton got into the endzone for the Reivers third score of the half on another short throw by Glantz and the Reivers led 23-0 just minutes into the second quarter.  Milton Sargbah pushed it to 30-0 when he found the endzone from 3-yards out.  The score put him into a tie with former wide receiver Matt Waters ('09-'11) with his 15th career touchdown.  

Iowa Western's Darkside defense got into the scoring after ASA tried to get themselves out of the shadow of the endzone with a pitch play, but a horde of Reivers zeroed in before the running back could get out of the endzone.  With another free-kick and another quick drive, Glantz found Roscoe Parrish for a 50-yard catch and run touchdown as the lead grew to 39-0 midway through the quarter for the final offensive TD of the game.  

Noah Sauberan would increase the lead to 42-0 on a 28-yard field goal and the 'Darkside' would finish out the first-half scoring with Diontrel Wommack intercepting Silver Storm QB Desmond Prusia for the Reivers first pick-six of the fall.  The 38-yard return put the exclamation mark on the 10th quarter of 30+ points in program history.

Iowa Western played nearly every player that suited up on Saturday in the second half with the defense picking up another safety in the second half for the Reivers lone score.  ASA-Miami scored their only touchdown with 1:07 left in the fourth as Prusia threw just the second touchdown pass of the season for the Silver Storm.  The defense limited ASA to just 67 total yards and forced a pair of turnovers in addition to five sacks and the two safeties.

The win sets up a rematch with Snow College on Saturday in Ephraim, Utah.  The Badgers upset the Reivers, 31-30, in March and turned the victory into an appearance in the NJCAA's National Title game. 

"Our goal has been to take it one game at a time and now with this win, we can put the focus on Snow," said Strohmeier, "It's a tough place to play and they're very talented.  We've got our work cut out for us."

Iowa Western entered the game against ASA as the number three ranked team, while Snow is currently the nation's number one ranked squad.  Kickoff is set for 2:00 pm CST with the game both on Iowa Western's radio station, 89.7 the River, and GoReivers.com.  Pregame can be heard at 1:30 on the radio side while the video broadcast will start approximately ten minutes from kickoff at Badger Stadium.

NOTES

The win gave Iowa Western their 25th all-time victory against a first-time opponent, bringing their record to 25-8.

The 51 points marked the 42nd time in program history that the Reivers have scored 50 or more points in a game and the 28th time they have achieved the mark at home.

C.J. Horton, Roscoe Parrish, and Diontrel Wommack all scored their first touchdowns as Reivers.  They are the 180th, 181st, and 182nd players to score a touchdown for Iowa Western.

With 33 points in the 2nd Quarter, IWCC has now scored 30+ points in a quarter in 10 games in program history.  It's the second time this season the team has scored over 30 points and the third time this year they've accomplished this feat.