Maroons Flex Muscle, Knocks SC East From The List of Unbeatens
The Sioux City East Black Raiders entered Friday’s game against Dowling Catholic with one goal in mind: prove that they were worthy of their 5-0 record.
Dowling made sure East didn’t get that chance.
The third-ranked Maroons continued to find new ways to score as they manhandled the Black Raiders 52-3 at a cold and windy Valley Stadium. The loss knocked the #7 Black Raiders from the list of unbeaten teams in Class 4A, leaving Bettendorf and Cedar Rapids Washington as the two teams left without a loss.
Quarterback Ryan Boyle once again took center stage as he led the Maroons offense down the field for their first score, ending with a Gray Gochenour 56 yard touchdown run. After a three-and-out by East, Dowling had a chance to increase their lead, but Nick McLellan’s 41 yard field goal attempt was short.
Action in the 4th quarter between Sioux City East and Dowling Catholic, Oct. 3, 2014.
On the ensuing drive, Dante Campero intercepted a JJ Stephens pass, and on the next play, Boyle hooked up with Eric Fardal for a 41 yard scoring strike. No matter what SC East attempted, Dowling’s defense kept Class 4A’s leading rusher Alex Stueve to 17 carries for 29 yards and Stephens was 6-19 for 55 yards and 3 interceptions. East was out-rushed by Dowling, 320-76.
Dowling’s scoring binge continued as Boyle (8-17-0, 154 yards passing, 67 yards rushing) rumbled for a 25 yard score, and found Charlie Schulte for a 62 yard touchdown pass. Junior Linebacker Jacob Shedenhelm intercepted Stephens pass for a 20 yard score, and later McLellan’s 31 yd field goal made it 38-0. East’s Jared Amundson’s gave the Black Raiders their only score of the night with a 24 yard field goal at the half, 38-3.
Dowling completed the scoring in the game with a Cole Deskin 2 yard run and backup quarterback J.T. Brown’s 2 yard touchdown plunge, all in the third quarter. Cole Deskin rushed 13 times for 90 yards and Gray Gochenour carried the ball three times for 64 yards for the Maroons. The lone bright spot for the Black Raiders was Austin Ahrendt grabbing 6 passes from Stephens for 60 yards.
A side note was that Iowa football head coach Kirk Ferentz and offensive coordinator Greg Davis attended the game to watch Boyle, who has committed to play for the Hawkeyes next fall.
Next week, Sioux City East (5-1) will host Council Bluffs Lewis Central (5-1) in a Class 4A District 2 matchup. Dowling (5-1) will travel to Johnston (5-1) for their annual clash against the Dragons in another District 2 contest.
