Milledgeville, GA
Another ranked road test hits the Reivers Saturday, from a locale that was less than friendly during their last visit in 2013.
Iowa Western, riding an 18-game win streak that included an NJCAA National Championship, was upended during their only previous visit to Georgia Military College.
Down 10-3, the 5th ranked Bulldogs put up 31 unanswered points to top 2nd ranked IWCC 48-38. Head Coach Scott Strohmeier, Defensive Coordinator Mike Blackbourn, and assistant Jeff Monthei were the only members of this year's squad who were part of that game.
"Turnovers flipped that game," said Strohmeier, "they got us once when we were about to score and again to start the second half for a score, that game, that trip doesn't hold many good memories."
To date, that game ranks at the top of the list of worst games for the Reivers for giveaways, turning the ball over six times in the game. IWCC scored 28 points in the 4th quarter to make the score respectable, but the Bulldogs owned the game from the 2nd quarter on.
Similarities this season include the Reivers ranked number two in the NJCAA poll and a double-digit win streak, that's where Coach Strohmeier would like them to end.
"We've got to put ourselves in good situations, because their place and their crowd make it a tough place to play, especially from behind."
Iowa Western rallied from a first-quarter deficit to top 6th ranked Iowa Central last week and have only trailed three times all season, the team looks to strike early on Saturday at Davenport Field.
Georgia Military, led by Head Coach and Athletic Director Rob Manchester, are 15th in this week's poll at 6-2, falling to only 4th ranked Snow and undefeated Monroe.
"We know they're talented, "said DC Mike Blackbourn, "a mobile quarterback, a couple of very talented skill players around him, we'll have to be very good to stop them from scoring."
The Reivers were very good defensively last week, holding Iowa Central 200 plus yards under their season average led by Jacob Ellis's 15 tackles and two key interceptions. Those numbers were good enough to earn the freshman from Granite Bay, California, NJCAA Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Donovan Anthony leads a balanced Bulldog attack, averaging nearly 180 yards a contest through the air and on the ground, while the 'Dogs defense allows a stingy 212.1 yards per game, including just under 56 yards on the ground.
For the Reivers, they're looking to finish out opportunities that they're creating, including cashing in on red-zone opportunities.
"We've missed out on too many goal-to-go opportunities in the last few weeks and we want to get in the endzone when those opportunities present themselves," said Strohmeier.
Nate Glantz will look to continue his solid play on the season, the freshman cleared 3,000 yards passing for his Reivers career against Iowa Central and the one-two punch of Milton Sargbah and Moses Bryant should be enough to keep the Bulldogs defense honest. Coach Manchester's 'D' is led by Jalynn Tarver at linebacker and a defensive line that has the height and speed to create potential problems for the Reivers passing game.
The noon kickoff can be heard and seen on the Reiver Sports Network. The pregame will start on Iowa Western's 100,000 watt FM station, 89.7 the River at 11:30 with Jake Ryan and Russ Nelsen on the call for the game.
Follow the team on Twitter or Facebook for live updates and information from the game.
NOTES
This will be the fourth all-time meeting between the two teams, with Iowa Western holding a 2-1 lead. All four of the match-ups have come with both teams ranked in the NJCAA weekly rankings.
Davenport Field is a natural grass surface. Iowa Western has played 40 straight games on turf since last playing on natural grass, topping Ellsworth in a conference match-up in 2017. A game the Reivers played in and won as the number one ranked team in the NJCAA poll, only to fall to number three in the following week's rankings.
Former Reivers quarterback Connor Bravard threw 55 times the last time the two teams clashed in Georgia. That ranks third all-time for passing attempts in a game. His 357 yards passing ranks fifth all-time in single-game performances.
This will be only the second game all-time that the Reivers will play on November 6th. Iowa Western was upset by Ellsworth on November 6th, 2010, the only time the Panthers have beaten IWCC in program history.
IWCC began 0-2 in the month of November, playing in and losing a pair of conference playoff games. Since that auspicious start, Coach Strohmeier's squad has reeled off 15 straight November victories.
