Davenport Assumption Grinds Out Win Over Clear Creek Amana
Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports
DAVENPORT – The potential for thunderstorms moved up the start time for the Class 3A District 5 matchup between Clear Creek Amana and Davenport Assumption.
It was a quick start by the Knights that dampened the Clippers’ postseason hopes.
Davenport Assumption bolted to a 14-0 lead and held on for a 27-14 win over Clear Creek Amana on a rainy evening at Brady Street Stadium in Davenport.
Assumption improved to 5-2 with the win and remained unbeaten at 3-0 in District 5 play while Clear Creek Amana dropped to 4-3 and 1-2 in distrct games.
“It was physical up front, kids were getting after it, it was a meaningful game for both teams and I think it showed,” Clear Creek Amana coach Gabe Bakker said. “We talked about this being a playoff type game and we had to fight for it and we just came up short.”
Davenport Assumption turned an interception into a touchdown in the first quarter built a 14-0 lead with a 16-play, 86-yard march and then played keep away while keeping its district title hopes alive.
The Knights had three touchdown drives of 12 plays or more and ran 74 offensive plays compared to 51 for Clear Creek Amana
Senior quarterback Tyler Kulhanek rushed for 133 yards and 195-pound running back Nathan Schlichting ran for 97 more as the Knights piled up 254 rushing yards on 55 carries.
“We just felt like we needed to establish the running game tonight and be patient,” Davenport Assumption coach Wade King said. “The last two or three ball games we didn’t keep grinding and tonight we knew we had to do that and play a little keep away and we did that.”
A rare Thursday evening game for Clear Creek Amana turned into an even more uncommon situation when kickoff was moved up two hours to 5 p.m. due to the potential for heavy rain.
Assumption took advantage early when Owen Hammel picked off a Ryan Navara pass to give the Knights the ball at the CCA 39 yard line.
After seven straight running plays Kulhanek connected with Grant Simpson for a 10-yard touchdown pass with 2:31 left in the first quarter.
Assumption made it 14-0 when Kulhanek connected with Seth Adrian for a 17-yard scoring strike on a third-and-10 play to cap 16-play, 84-yard march.
The Knights were 3-for-3 on third down conversions on the touchdown drive that put Assumption up 14-0 with 7:03 left in the first half.
“We needed this because last week we didn’t feel like we played very well and we skated by and we hung around long enough to win but this week we wanted to get after it right away,” King said. “I still think we left some points off the board that we could have had but we’ll take it and go from here.”
Clear Creek Amana answered immediately as Navara hit a wide open Tom Johnson over the middle for a 59-yard touchdown pass that cut the lead in half.
“I really liked the way our kids battled the whole night,” Bakker said. “It’s a weird scenario first playing on a Thursday and then moving the game up mid-morning and playing at 5. I think our kids handled it well, they played their hearts out and Assumption just made more plays than we did to get the win.”
Clear Creek Amana had its chances to get closer in the second half but couldn’t quite close the gap.
Assumption converted three third downs including a 28-yard pass from Kulhanek to Simpson on a on a 12-play, 83-yard touchdown drive to open the second half.
Schlichting capped the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run with 7:40 left in the third quarter.
“We them in a long third down and they completed a long pass and that kind of broke our back a little bit,” Bakker said. “That hurt. If we could have got a stop right there to start the second half I’m not saying we are going to win but it could have been a little different.”
Clear Creek Amana moved into Assumption territory on the ensuing possession but had the drive stall after an intentional grounding penalty.
Alex Figueroa had rushed for 67 yards for Clear Creek Amana while Navara threw for 136 yards and a touchdown and also scored on a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter.
CCA DA
First downs 9 22
Rushes-yards 32-85 55-254
Comp-Att-Int 8-22-1 9-19-1
Passing yards 136 106
Total yards 221 360
Punts-avg. 5-36 3-25.7
Fumbles-lost 0-0 1-0
Penalties-yards 4-38 8-58
Davenport Assumption 7 7 6 7 – 27
Clear Creek Amana 0 7 0 7 – 14
DA – Grant Simpson 10 pass from Tyler Kulhanek (Franz Sirna kick)
DA – Seth Adrian 17 pass from Kulhanek (Sirna kick)
CCA – Tom Johnson 59 pass from Ryan Navara
DA – Nathan Schlichting 2 run (Kick failed)
DA – Kulhanek 3 run (Sirna kick)
CCA – Ryan Navara 2 run (Denny kick)
Individual Statistics
RUSHING – CCA: Alex Figueroa 14-67, Gage Freeman 5-12, Sam Stevens 2-9, Cole Pfister 3-6, Ryan Navara 4-1, Tom Johnson 2-0, Team 1-(-10). DA: Tyler Kulhanek 22-133, Nathan Schlichting 25-97, Dayne Hodge 2-10, Seth Adrian 2-7, Grant Simpson 1-7, Noah Gonzales 1-5, Simon Weitz 1-(-3), Team 1-(-2).
PASSING – CCA: Ryan Navara 8-22-1 136. DA: Tyler Kulhanek 9-19-1 106.
RECEIVING – CCA: Tom Johnson 2-62, Brock Reade 2-13, Sam Stevens 1-29, Alex Figueroa 1-24, Harrison Rosenberg 1-8, Ryan Navara 1-0. DA: Simon Weitz 6-51, Grant Simpson 2-38, Seth Adrian 1-17.
Did you enjoy this subscription free article? Help keep Your Prep Sports free by becoming a member.