Susan Harman

Your Prep Sports

No one is quite sure what happened to Cedar Rapids Washington this year. A preseason top-10 team coming off trip to the 4A semifinals, the Warriors were an enigma.

On the other hand there’s no question what happened to Iowa City West the season following its 4A state runner-up finish. The Trojans have improved every week, set numerous offensive records, and their defense appears now ready for prime time.

Top-ranked West ran roughshod over Washington, 49-7, Friday in a first-round playoff game played in freezing temperatures with a stiff wind and a driving rain. The Trojans boosted their record to 10-0 and will host Cedar Falls next Friday in the quarterfinals. Washington finished 5-5.

“In the playoffs you try to put (the weather) out of your mind as much as possible,” West senior Dillon Doyle said. “I think we had a lot of fun with it. We just go out there and play like we’ve always played. It’s fun, so it doesn’t matter what weather it is.”

The weather conditions dictated play. West put its powerful passing game on the shelf and used a dominating offensive line (Guy Snow, Joe Briddle, Jonathan Gannon, Nate Daniels and Ian Gluesing) to control the line of scrimmage. Running backs Trumell Roberts and Andre White and quarterback Evan Flitz combined for 330 yards rushing

“You’ve got to run the ball in the playoffs,” West coach Garrett Hartwig said. “We’ve been close all season, we feel like, and tonight we stepped up and got it done. We’ve always felt we could run the ball. We’ve just been able to throw it with such an exceptional quarterback and receiving corps.”

Roberts in particular gave the Warriors fits, accumulating 176 yards on just 11 carries. His 34-yard touchdown run in the second quarter seemingly started badly.

 “Once I first hit the hole, there was no hole,” Roberts said of his first TD run. “I saw it wasn’t there. It was like instinct took over. I just stepped back and then hit it again.”

Somehow Roberts came out of the scrum and bolted through what remained of the defense and into the end zone.

“This whole week I’ve just been trying to be more patient and waiting for blocks to form because they’re there,” he said. “Our line gets them. I just have to be more patient, and that’s what I did.”

Roberts added a 41-yard touchdown run around left end later in the quarter to increase the lead to 35-0. He showed deceptive speed and an ability to weave his way around tacklers once he reached the secondary.

“I try to read what their body’s doing and react with whatever let’s me get into the open field,” Roberts said.

The defense did its part, forcing four Washington punts in the first half and ending another possession with an interception by Austin West. Washington had three first downs in the first half and didn’t score until less than a minute remained in the game and West had reserves on the field.

The defense gave the offense great field position all game. West’s first five possessions began at the Washington 44, 48, 28, 37, and 45.

Doyle, Jason Strunk and Dillon Shephard put tremendous heat on Warrior quarterback Bryan Kunde. West gang tackled and gave up yardage only grudgingly. The Warriors rushed for just 57 yards and passed for 77. Sixty-seven of those yards came on the final possession against reserves.

“I think everything finally clicked tonight,” Doyle said of the defense.

“That’s the defense we’ve been waiting for,” Hartwig said. “You have to stop the run, and you have to run the ball this time of year.”

                                    CRW                     ICW

First downs                     8                        21

Rushing-yards            31-57                 43-384           

Comp-Att-Int               6-22-1               5-13-0

Passing-yards             77                       41

Punts-avg.                   6-32                    1-18

Fumbles-lost               0-0                      3-2

Penalties-yards          4-30                   4-40

C.R. Washington            0            0            0            7 –  7

West High                      21          14          14           0 – 49

ICW – Dillon Doyle 17 pass from Evan Flitz (Lucas Karwal kick)

ICW – Doyle 1 run (Karwal kick)

ICW – Cole Mabry 8 run (Karwal kick)

ICW – Trumell Roberts 34 run (Karwal kick)

ICW – Roberts 41 run (Karwal kick)

ICW – Roberts 7 run (Karwal kick)

ICW – Peter Breitbach 10 run (Karwal kick)

CRW – Haven Henningsen 3 run (Andrew Hammer kick)

Individual Statistics

RUSHING – CRW: Haven Henningsen 16-64, Josiah Braggs 5-9, Bryan Kunde 10-(-16). ICW: Trumell Roberts 11-176, Andre White 11-84, Evan Flitz 7-70, Peter Breitbach 6-41, Cole Mabry 1-8, Jalen Gaudet 2-3, Noah Aanestad 1-3, Jason Strunk 1-2, Dillon Doyle 1-1, Traevis Buchanan 2-(-1).

PASSING – CRW: Bryan Kunde 6-22-1 77. ICW: Evan Flitz 5-13-0 41.

RECEIVING – CRW: Haven Henningsen 2-21, Josiah Braggs 1-20, No. 86 1-14, Lincoln Riley 1-12, Cade Saylor 1-10; ICW: Dillon Doyle 3-28, Austin Geasland 1-7, Jalen Gaudet 1-6.