CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - It was a senior day that will be remembered for a long time. Leaving with one of the best four-year records in school history, Coe's senior class closed out their careers with a 77-7 win over Linn County rival Cornell at Clark Field.
Things got off to a shaky start for the Kohawks, as junior Brendan Leiran (Waukon, Iowa/Waukon) fumbled on the first play of the game at the Kohawk 49-yard line. Cornell recovered the fumble, but would attempt a 41-yard field goal at the end of the drive that senior Tyler Hemry (West Union, Iowa/North Fayette) blocked.
The Kohawks wasted no time as senior Brad Boyle (New Sharon, Iowa/North Mahaska) completed a 48-yard pass to junior Jared Kuehner (Center Point, Iowa/Center Point-Urbana) for 48-yards. it would be the first of seven passes to Kuehner on the day, as he finished with a school-record 267 yards receiving. With 8:44 left in the first quarter, Leiran scored from 12-yards out to put Coe up 7-0.
Coe forced a Cornell punt, taking over at its own 30-yard line. A heavy dose of Leiran led to a 70-yard drive for the Kohawks in 2:47, as Leiran scored his second touchdown of the day from four-yards out with 4:20 to play in the first quarter. The highlight of the day for the Rams came on a third-and-five on the ensuing drive. Quarterback Juan Flores took a draw play up the middle for 63-yards, as the Rams cut Coe's lead to 14-7 with 3:17 left in the first quarter. It was all Kohawks from that point, as they would add one more touchdown in the first quarter, a one-yard run by Boyle, with :43 left to lead 21-7.
Following a Cornell punt, Boyle completed a second-and-20 pass to Kuehner for a 47-yard touchdown pass with 13:03 left in the first half. After another Ram punt, Coe turned the ball over on downs. The incomplete pass was one of just three Coe drives that didn't end in a touchdown on the day. Cornell would drive deep into Kohawk territory, but senior Jacob Breitbach (Panora, Iowa/Panorama) forced a fumble from Jason Propheter that was recovered by senior Ben Carr (Clinton, Iowa/Prince of Peace) at the Coe 23-yard line.
Facing third-and-14, Boyle completed an 81-yard touchdown pass to Kuehner, putting Coe up 35-7 with 6:12 to play in the opening half. On the very next Ram play, juniorFrank Weymiller (New Albin, Iowa/Waukon) hit Flores for a loss, popping the ball loose as junior Demetreus Johnson (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Kennedy) recovered it at the Ram eight-yard line. Three-straight carries by senior Jacob Frederick (Waterloo, Iowa/Columbus) scored his second career touchdown from one-yard out, giving the Kohawks a 42-7 lead with 4:31 left in the first half.
Just two plays later, senior Austin Lloyd (Center Point, Iowa/Center Point-Urbana) recorded his fifth career interception, picking off Flores at the Coe 42-yard line. A nine-play drive, six of which were carries by Frederick, resulted in Frederick's second rushing touchdown of the day, this one from two-yards out with :18 left in the half, as Coe took a 49-7 lead into the locker room.
Coe forced a three-and-out from the Rams on the opening drive of the second half. Facing a third-and-seven, Boyle found Kuehner for a 63-yard touchdown pass, his 63rd and final touchdown pass of his career. It was the final pass of Boyle's storied career at Coe, as he left with 8,500 career passing yards. Following another Ram punt, Leiran went 43-yards off the right side to the Cornell seven-yard line. Boyle took over from there, with back-to-back carries to score his 50th and final rushing touchdown of his career, the second most in school history behind Carey Bender's 71.
Three plays after the Kohawks took a 63-7 lead, junior Phillip Hale (Plano, Texas/Plano) forced a fumble that sophomore Antoine Allen-Jackson (Aurora, Ill./Oswego East) recovered at the Coe 25-yard line. The Kohawks weren't able to capitalize, but pinned the Rams deep on a 64-yard punt by sophomore Wes Anderson(Newhall, Iowa/Benton Community).
Facing third-and-20, Flores was picked off once again, this time by sophomoreJordan Atwater (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Linn-Mar). Two plays into the fourth quarter, Frederick rushed up the middle for 18-yards and his career-high third touchdown of the day, as Coe went up 70-7 with 13:49 to play. Getting more pressure on Flores as the game went along, sophomore defensive lineman Mike Schneidermann (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Washington) intercepted Flores at the Cornell 41-yard line, returning the pick 23-yards to the Cornell 18. Three plays later, freshman Jake Osborn (Oskaloosa, Iowa/Oskaloosa) scored up the middle from 13-yards out, leaving Coe with a 77-7 lead with 10:49 to play.
Coe's 77 points were the sixth most in school history and most since scoring 78 in 1996. The 70 point margin of victory was the fifth most and highest since an 87-0 win over Beloit in 1971. The win over Cornell was the 12th-straight for the Kohawks, the longest streak for either team in the 121 all-time meetings between the two in the Oldest Football Rivalry West of the Mississippi River. Coe's 77 points were the most they have ever scored against the Rams.
The Kohawks totaled 635 yards of offense, the sixth most in school history. Leiran finished with a game-high 123 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 12 carries. Frederick finished with 16 carries for 54 yards and three scores. Boyle added 37 yards and two touchdowns off seven carries. Boyle finished the day 13-of-19 passing for 333 yards. Boyle finished the season with 170 passing completions, the fourth most in school history. He also own the top two spots from the past two years. His 2,417 passing yards this season rank as the fifth most in school history. Boyle's 2,990 yards of total offense this year is the second most in school history, as he now owns the top three spots in that category.
Kuehner's 267 yards receiving broke Seth Wallace's school record of 234 set against Buena Vista on Nov. 4, 2000. With his three touchdown receptions, he became the seventh player to record three or more receiving touchdowns in a game. Kuehner finished the season with 822 yards receiving, the fifth most in school history. SeniorNick Ratchford (Waterloo, Iowa/Columbus), sophomore Keaton Juergens (Elkader, Iowa/Central Elkader) and Leiran each added two receptions. Ratchford finished with 29 yards and Juergens added 24, while Leiran had 13.
Senior Jacob Lower (Volga, Iowa/Central Elkader) led the defense with six tackles. Weymiller added five solo tackles, two sacks and three tackles for loss. Weymiller finished the season with 17 tackles for loss (fourth most in school history) and 10 sacks, the second most to his own total of 15.5 from his freshman season. Carr also had five tackles and two tackles for loss. Anderson finished the day 11-for-11 on extra points, giving him 45 extra points made on the year, the fourth most in school history.
Coe finishes the season 6-4 overall and 6-2 in the Iowa Conference. As Iowa Conference runner-up, it is the third-straight season the Kohawks have finished second in the league.