Reivers Battle From Behind Again, Return 'The Cup' To Trophy Case

Ft. Dodge, IA

This season's Iowa Western football identity has become that of its offense through three games.  The Reivers have shed their normal routine of relying on the defense while the offense finds its way, this year has been 180° different.

Heading into Saturday's battle for 'The Cup' with Iowa Central, Iowa Western's offense has been rolling, posting over 511 yards and 41 points per game.

The trade-off is that the defense has been susceptible to the big play and even after last week's shutdown of Dodge City, was still giving up just under 400 yards to opposing teams.

The NJCAA's second ranked Reivers (3-1) went to work at Dodger Stadium against the two-loss Tritons knowing that #15 ICCC (1-3) was playing host on a two-game skid, including a late letdown in an overtime loss to #1 Hutchinson last week on the road.

Both teams' opening possessions came up empty with IWCC punting and Iowa Central turning the ball over on downs.

Iowa Western rolled into the Tritons' red zone on two plays after taking over as Jonathan Humpal grabbed five yards on the opening play and Hunter Dekkers found a streaking Naivyan Cargill for 43-yards into ICCC territory.

However, two plays later, Dekkers tossed his second interception of the season into the arms of the Tritons' Jawarren Corbin.

Iowa Central Quarterback Tyler Smith, starting due to injury, made the most of his opportunity, finding Triton spark plug Cyncir Bowers for a 60-yard score on a broken play three plays later for the games' opening tally and a 7-0 lead.

Dekkers and Company regrouped quickly, scoring Iowa Western's first touchdown on a nine play, 72-yard drive.  Daniel Swinney capped off the drive with a two-yard run after a Fresh Walters' catch had set the Reivers up with a first and goal.

The following point after was blocked and the Tritons' took the ball back with a one-point lead.

Smith led the home team 51 yards in nine plays, setting up a field goal attempt by Tritons' kicker Nolan Gustafson from 41-yards out, however, IWCC's Jeremy Lewis got a hand up to block the kick and Ahmad Johnson scooped the ball up and raced 75-yards for the score on an electric return.

Johnson's score was only the second blocked field goal return by the Reivers in program history.  Daniel Isom recorded the first from 66-yards out during the 2018 season against Dodge City.

The lead would be short lived as Cyncir Bowers would return the ensuing kickoff from his own goal line for a touchdown to return the lead to the Tritons.

Daniel Swinney helped the Reivers to retake the lead to start the second quarter, his 43-yard run to the Iowa Central five-yard line allowed IWCC to take the lead on a one-yard run by Trevor Burnett to make the score 20-14, visitors.

The story of the first half however against the Reivers was the big play by ICCC.  Smith led the Tritons to a pair of first downs before a run fake allowed running back Anthony Hall to release into the secondary where the QB found him wide open for a 48-yard score to draw the game even at 20 apiece.

Special teams would keep the game even when Lewis blocked his second kick of the game, turning Gustafson's PAT away to keep the game tied.

The Reivers burnt another four and a half minutes off the clock on their next drive, but a fumble on an errant snap and a sack of Dekkers forced IWCC to punt the ball away.

The 'Darkside' gave another big chunk of yards to the Triton offense when Smith found Austin Ayobamidele for 63 yards before Smith's third scoring pass of the day found a wide open Bryce Anderson from 8 yards out to return the lead to Iowa Central.

Down 27-20 with 4:43 remaining in the opening half, Dekkers completed five passes including a seven-yard strike to Fresh Walters for the score, with Bartachek's extra-point knotting the score at 27 with just 47 seconds remaining.

"The one drive we hurt ourselves was the bad snap, but we've been consistent, just can't give up the big plays, that's what's hurt us," said Head Coach Scott Strohmeier at the half.

For the second straight game, Iowa Western used a strong third quarter to put the game away.

The 'Darkside' flexed their muscle to force a three and out from Iowa Central to start the half and a 13-play, 68-yard scoring drive followed.

Walters picked up another 31-yards on a catch from Dekkers and Daniel Swinney followed with his second score of the day to give the Reivers a 34-27 lead.

Another three-and-out followed by the Tritons and another score from Iowa Western followed.

Swinney took all three carries for Iowa Western, racing a total of 48-yards, including a 14-yard run to put the Reivers up two scores.

Swinney became the first Reiver to record three rushing touchdowns or more since former Reiver quarterback James Graham scored four times against Ellsworth on September 24, 2022.

Iowa Central would score once in the fourth quarter to slice the lead to one score.

The Reivers' following drive was snuffed out leaving the Tritons with one last chance.

A fourth down attempt was snapped before Smith was ready, sending the ball bouncing into the backfield and Cyncir Bowers was tackled on the recovery to turn the ball over on downs and Iowa Western into the win column with a 41-34 victory and the Tritons to their third straight loss.

Daniel Swinney posted his second 100-yard rushing game of the year, collecting 128 yards on 16 carries.  Dekkers had another efficient, albeit, quiet day with 220 yards and a score on 19-29 passes.

Iowa Central QB Tyler Smith tossed for 389 yards on the day, making him the first opposing signal caller to do so since the Tritons' Byron Jarrett went for 402 yards during the first of two games with ICCC in the 2021 season.

The Reivers' not only took an important first step toward another conference title, but they also collected 'The Cup' to take it back to Council Bluffs.  'The Cup', formerly known as the 'Kinney Cup' has resided in Western Iowa in 14 of the 16 seasons of its existence and it will be placed back on its perch in the Reivers' Athletic Performance Center for the fifth straight season.

"This one is the big one, the road to a conference championship the last several years, has gone to the winner of this game," said Strohmeier, "we've got one more game to win for a conference title and we've got all of our goals still in front of us."

Defensively the Reivers were led in tackles by Safety Lucas Struck for the fourth consecutive game with lineman Walt Gray picking up a pair of sacks on the Tritons' Smith. Ayden Barnby and Jemir Smith teamed up to split the third quarterback tackle of the game.

The Reivers now return home for three straight contests, with Coffeyville the first to visit on Saturday (9/28) at Titan Stadium as Iowa Western celebrates Homecoming 2024.

"It'll be good to be home for awhile," Strohmeier added, "I don't remember a stretch where we've had basically a month at home, it'll be nice, but it does add a layer where we've got to keep the guys on track, every game we've played and will play is going to be a battle … the difference in talent isn't what it used to be and it comes down now to executing the game plan, we've got eight games left and there's not a gimme on the schedule. We're everybody's target and it doesn't get easier."

Iowa Western owns a 3-1 record against the Red Ravens at home and holds a 5-3 record against CCC all-time.  The Reivers have split the last two regular season meetings, upended in 2022 on the road and winning the match-up last season in their home finale.

The game is set for a 1:00 pm kickoff from Titan Stadium in Council Bluffs.

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 the press box at Lewis Central High School.

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