A Rivalry Renewed: Dowling vs. Valley
When two teams meet in a rivalry, it’s more than “a game.” It’s families, friends, neighborhoods, and a community divided…in the name of loyalty, tradition, and support.
On Friday, one rivalry will be renewed, with bigger stakes than city pride.
The #8 Valley Tigers and the #1 Dowling Catholic Maroons will lock horns for the 65th time as our CISN CenturyLink Game of the Week. And for the Tigers, it is Homecoming.
After a season-opening loss, Valley has rebounded with two resounding wins. Quarterback Rocky Lombardi, running back Drew Gray and Dominique Dafney provided the triple punch for the Tigers on offense. Last week against Southeast Polk, Lombardi was 14-19 for 266 yards passing for three touchdowns, all of them to Dafney. Gray pummeled the Rams’ defense for 161 yards on 23 carries. Valley’s defense surrendered 38 rushing yards to SE Polk in a 42-14 win.
Dowling turned their #1 vs #2 showdown against Waukee last week into a rout. Quarterback Ryan Boyle accounted for 5 of the Maroons’ touchdowns and the defense shut down a Waukee offense to a mind boggling 32 yards, 15 of those from coming from All-State running back Trevor Allen. Boyle passed for 169 yards and rushed for 152 as Dowling bolted to a 28-0 first quarter lead en route to a 45-14 win.
Can Valley do what no one hasn’t done since 2012 and take down the undefeated Maroons? Can the Tigers avenge the semi-final playoff loss in the UNI-Dome to end last season?
Who: #1 Dowling Catholic (3-0) at #8 WDM Valley (2-1)
Where: Valley Stadium, West Des Moines, Iowa
When: Friday, September 19th, 7:30pm kickoff
The Facts: Dowling routed Waukee, 45-14 last week. Valley defeated SE Polk, 42-14. Dowling leads the series, 38-26, including playoffs since it became an annual rivalry in 1968.
Things to watch:
- Battle of the trenches: Valley’s offensive line vs. Dowling’s defensive line
- Will Dowling’s defense shut down Valley’s Lombardi, Gray, and Dafney?
- Will Ryan Boyle put on another super-human like performance?
- How will Valley’s 7 Sophs perform in their first rivalry game?
- Can the Maroons improve upon a stellar 1st Quarter of last week?
Dowling Catholic – Projected Lineups
Offensive starters – QB Ryan Boyle; TB Isaiah Patton, FB Gray Gochenour; SE Eric Fardal; FL Charlie Schulte; C Cole Wymore, G Joe Brett and Kevin Vaughn-Carber, T Elijah Swehla and Conner McPhee, TE Ben McNeal
Defensive starters – FS Nick Wilson, CB Dante Campero and Michael Zachary, LB Kevin McMurray, Jordan Theis, Rodney Harris, and Gray Gochenour; DE Max Morris and Jo Jo Jok; T Ross Carpenter; NG Quinn Sonntag,
Special Teams- P/K Nick McLellan, Holder Frankie Mauro, LS Quinn Sonntag, PR Michael Zachary, KR Joe Gorsche
Valley – Project Starting Lineups
Offensive starters – QB Rocky Lombardi, RB Drew Gray and Blake Salsbury, WR Dominique Dafney and Austin Hronich, TE John Gliniecki, T Cody Genzen and Sam Rogers, G John Rairdon and Zachary Matt, C Brady Smith
Defensive starters – NG Trey Walsh, DT Dan McCoy and Zach Downs, DE Austin Turner, CB Matt Vertin and Turner Scott, LB Nick Yencer, Mason Berg and Ben Campos, S Gabe Honnold and Keller Prien
Special Teams – P Zach Downs, K Cole Hahn
The live pregame show will begin at 7pm, with kickoff to follow on Central Iowa Sports Network (centraliowasportsnetwork.com).
Join Paul Yeager, Keith Borness for the call of the game. Jim Kirby will cover the Dowling sideline and Jesse Gavin will be on the Valley side of the field. Follow us on Twitter @CISportsNet for in-game updates.
Our Audio Game of the Week, presented by Scheels, will have Ankeny Centennial (3-0) hosting Southeast Polk (0-3), with Dar Danielson with the play-by-play. As an added bonus, our partners at High School Cube will have the live online stream of other area games of interest. The featured game will be Johnston and Waukee. Plus we’ll be offering links to games in eastern Iowa as well through QC Sports Net.
