Reivers Beat Heat, Take Overtime Win Over Bulldogs

Milledgeville, GA

It's one thing to start the year against a formidable foe, it's another to have to beat two of them. 

#1 Iowa Western not only faced perennial power Georgia Military (NJCAA #11) to start the year but also went up against the sweltering summer heat of Georgia in game one of the 2024 season.

On a sunny day that peaked at 95° with 97% humidity, the defending NJCAA Champion Reivers overcame a slow offensive start and a pounding GMC ground game that gave the Bulldogs a two-score advantage on two separate occasions in the opening half of play.

Bulldog QB Chip Cooper raced 71 yards for the game's opening score and followed that run with another scoring scamper of 9 yards to get the cannon smoking at Davenport Field as the lead ballooned to 14-0.

The IWCC offense finally broke through as the first quarter ended.  QB Hunter Dekkers connected on five passes for 74 yards and then took it across the goal line for his first TD as a Reiver to half the GMC lead.

Cooper put the home team on the board again, this time through the air as the Bulldogs completed the 79-yard drive on a 27-yard strike to receiver Recordo Tarver to push the lead back to two scores.

With the 2nd quarter deficit at 21-7, Iowa Western took over at its 10-yard line.  A short run by Trevor Burnett was followed by a first down completion from Dekkers to Fresh Walters moving the Reivers to the 30.  Another strike followed to a streaking Keyon Brown who raced in for his first score as a Reiver and Dekkers' first TD pass as a Reiver.

The 'Darkside' defense held firm on the Georgia Military's next possession, stuffing three straight plays to halt a Bulldog drive.

A 6-play, 80-yard drive followed for Dekkers and the Reivers.  Another 55 yards passing for the QB and newcomer Daniel Swinney's 9-yard TD run allowed sophomore kicker Max Bartachek to knot the score at 21 headed into halftime.

"We finally broke through offensively, but they're taking advantage offensively", said Head Coach Scott Strohmeier, "hopefully we can carry the momentum into the second half, we've got to keep our guys hydrated and we've got to keep them focused, Georgia Military is going to continue to compete … they're not going to lay down."

Iowa Western marched 69 yards on the opening drive of the second half, only to be stopped by GMC's secondary.  Dekkers attempt into the end zone was grabbed by the Bulldogs' Keith Johnson for the game's lone turnover.

It would be the only scoring threat of the third quarter as the teams remained tied into the final regulation period. 

GMC continued their quarter-ending drive into the 4th, going for another go-ahead score on 4th and Goal from the 1-yard line.

Tailback Keenan Phillips who rushed for a pair of scores in GMC's opener against Jireh Prep was met at the one by Reiver linebacker Marcus Williams who stuffed him for no gain and a turnover on downs to keep the game tied at 21.

IWCC bought themselves some breathing room on the drive's first play when Swinney rolled 77 yards to set the offense up in GMC territory.

8 plays later Jonathan Humpal put the Reivers up for the first time when he finished the drive with a 3-yard scoring run.

Phillips, who was stopped on the potential go-ahead goal-to-go run for the Bulldogs on their previous drive, showed off his speed as GMC tied the game at 28 on his 60-yard scamper to the endzone with just under five minutes remaining on the 4th quarter clock.

Jonathan Humpal finished off the Reivers' previous drive after Daniel Swinney's long run and on IWCC's next drive, Humpal returned the favor. After the sophomore galloped 65 yards to the GMC 2-yard line, Swinney finished the job, exploding across the goal line from 2 yards out to put the Reivers ahead with under four minutes to play. 

Trailing 35-28, the Bulldogs went to the air as Cooper found Tarver again for a massive gain. A tackle by Devan Carlisle saved a score, but only briefly as GMC scored one play later when Keenan Phillips found the endzone from 10 yards out to even the score at 35 apiece.

The Reivers grabbed a quick first down after taking over with just under two minutes remaining but were forced to punt after Dekkers came up empty on three straight passing attempts and the game went to overtime.

Georgia Military won the toss and elected to go on defense first and appeared to be headed in the right direction when a holding penalty pushed IWCC back to the 35-yard line on the extra period's first play.  

Fresh Walters, who led the Reivers with 108 yards on eight catches, made a huge catch the following play to put IWCC ahead of the chains, and after a pass interference penalty made it first and goal, Jonathan Humpal put the exclamation point on a 100-yard rushing effort, putting Iowa Western ahead 42-35 and forcing GMC to score a TD to keep the game alive.

Needing just a stop to secure the game on 4th & 4 from the 19-yard line, IWCC's defense again gave up a crucial chunk play as Phillips rushed 10 yards to set up 1st & Goal from the Reivers' 9-yard line.

Trevon Kinchen would pull GMC within a point on a 7-yard run three plays later as the Bulldogs ran three straight plays out of the wildcat with Cooper on the sideline nursing an injury.  

That would factor in with Georgia Military electing to go for two and the win on their home field on the PAT.

Backup Jaylan Brown would come in for the attempt but went in motion with GMC choosing to go 'wildcat' again.

Brown received the ball back on a pitch as he raced to the right side of the line and was promptly tackled by Cameron Done and Ahmad Johnson to end the game.

Final score Reivers 42, Bulldogs 41 in what can only be described as an instant classic.

Both teams braved the elements to put on a show for the fans of both teams that stuck the game out until the final whistle.

The Reivers improved their all-time record against GMC to 5-1, with the three games at Davenport Field decided by just five total points.

Jonathan Humpal cleared the 100-yard plateau for the second straight game, but it was Daniel Swinney's 120 yards that led the way for IWCC. Swinney and Humpal each punched in a pair of scores and Quarterback Hunter Dekkers nearly cleared 300 yards on the day, falling just four yards shy in his Reiver debut.

Despite the big day for the GMC offense, the 'Darkside' picked up 11 tackles for loss on the day to go along with a quarterback sack. Marcus Williams' sack of Chris Cooper made it 57 straight with a QB tackle, it's been 151 straight with a tackle for loss.

"This was a heck of a way to start a season, both teams fought through dehydration and the heat", said Strohmeier after the win, "We've got work to do, but I'm extremely proud of the fight we showed today.  That's a good win against a very tough ball club."

The good news for the Reivers is that they'll play six of their next eight games at home and that includes this weekend's home opener against the Reivers' most recent rival, Hutchinson. The Blue Dragons have won the past two regular-season meetings between the teams, but Iowa Western bested them, 31-0, in the 2022 National Championship game. The Reivers lead the highly contested series, 5-4 overall, with the two teams splitting eight all-time regular-season meetings, each winning two at home and two on the road.

All the action can be heard, free of charge, on the Reiver Sports Network. The game, with Jake Ryan, Russ Nelsen, Josh Odson, and Tony Boone on the call, can also be found on Iowa Western's 100,000-watt FM radio station, 89.7 The River. The RSN Countdown to Kickoff begins at 12:30 PM from Titan Stadium at Lewis Central High School in Council Bluffs.

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