Independence, KS
The saying goes, 'defense wins championships'. Saturday, Iowa Western and Independence put up their best efforts in testing that theory.
The Reivers (5-0) won a good old-fashioned slobber knocker, 17-8, over the home-standing Pirates (1-3).
It appeared the visitors were ready to roll when IWCC turned the first turnover of the game, an interception by linebacker Rashion Hodge, into a touchdown. Hodge's return pushed the Reivers inside the 10-yard line and just one play later James Graham punched in his fifth rushing touchdown in the last two games from nine yards out to give the Reivers a 7-0 lead just two and half minutes into the game.
Iowa Western was poised to add to their lead on their next drive, but Sam Wilber's 27-yard attempt sailed wide right and Independence took over with their sights set on tying the game.
The 'Darkside' had other ideas, with Jackson Filer the primary instigator. The sophomore defensive end, the Reivers' all-time sack leader, picked up another pair of sacks in just three plays, and the Pirates were forced to punt.
Indy's defense, averaging just 22 points allowed per game coming into the contest, forced Reiver losses on three consecutive plays, including a pair of QB sacks on Graham. As Ty Nissen readied to punt on 4th down, the snap sailed over his head and the Pirates recovered the kick, but just over the boundary line for a safety to light up the home side of the scoreboard.
Following the special team's miscue, the Reivers would capitalize after forcing the Pirates into another three and out. Three 15-yard penalties against ICC aided a six-play, 69-yard drive as Wilber rebounded from his previous miss, punching in a career-long 44-yard field goal to extend the lead to eight for IWCC.
Filer and Anterio Thompson would each pick up another QB sack on the home team's next two drives before the Reivers grabbed their final points of the game before the end of the first half. Graham connected on all four of his passes on a 10-play, 51-yard drive with the final completion hauled in by the speedy Micah Davis. Davis full extended vertically to haul in his first score as a Reiver, landing in the back of the end zone on a 22-yard reception to build the Reiver lead to 17-2 in the 2nd Quarter.
The advantage was short-lived for IWCC as Pirate running back Antwan Roberts ripped off the biggest play of the day by either team on Indy's ensuing drive. Two plays after rushing for a Pirate first down, the speedy back went 80-yards for the first home team TD of the day. Isaiah Green blocked the extra point attempt of Wilson Yee however to keep the lead at a two-score cushion at 17-8 and what would end up as the final scoring of the game.
IWCC held Indy to 96 second-half yards, while Independence limited the Reivers to just 120 and stuffed the Reivers' only real chance of the second half on a 4th & goal.
The 'Darkside' held yet another opponent to 200 or fewer total yards, much needed on a day where Coach Strohmeier's offense wasn't clicking on all cylinders.
"We knew that their defense was their strength and today they really proved it", said Strohmeier after the game, "We missed some opportunities for sure, but credit to Coach (Jason) Martin, they schemed us well, that was a good football game."
The win pushed the all-time series advantage for IWCC to six wins and no losses versus the Pirates, with four of the victories coming on the road at historic Emmot Field.
Filer tied the all-time tackles for loss mark in the game and needs just an assisted tackle for loss to pass former Reiver and Omaha Northwest High School graduate, Stacy Keely.
Iowa Western now returns home to face off against #6 Snow College. The Badgers routed #10 Georgia Military in Ephraim, UT over the weekend, running their record to 4-1 on the season with their only defeat coming at the hands of #1 New Mexico Military.
"No disrespect to anyone we've played so far, but this is where the gauntlet begins", Strohmeier said, "Four of our last five opponents have a real chance to be in the mix for the playoffs and the fifth has just had some bad luck in closing out games. We're going to be challenged and we'll have to play every down to the best of our ability if we want to continue to win games."
The Reivers will kick off with the Badgers at 1:00 pm at Titan Stadium. IWCC swept Snow in a pair of games last season, with a total margin of victory of only three points. That total includes a two-point win in Utah and a one-point win overtime win in the inaugural NJCAA semi-finals in Council Bluffs.
Barley's Bar & Grill will host a free tailgate party, as they do before every Reiver home game, beginning at approximately 11:30 at Reiver Tailgate Village.
All the action can be heard, free of charge, on the Reiver Sports Network. The game, with Jake Ryan, Russ Nelsen, and Josh Odson 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 on the radio side with the video stream starting just before kickoff.
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