Dubuque, Iowa - The Kohawks came up short, 20-14, in a defensive battle against the Spartans from the University of Dubuque. The loss was the first conference loss of the season as they move to 2-1 in conference play, 3-2 overall.
The start of the game was stalled by rain and lightning. After an hour delay it was the Kohawk offense that was stalled as they came up short on fourth down throughout the game. Despite struggling to score, Coe remained in the game with some key plays in the second half. The Kohawks came up short in the final minute as heave to the end zone on the final play fell short.
Dubuque controlled the opening quarter as they held on to the ball for nine minutes and 40 seconds on an 18 play touchdown drive to start the scoring. Kordell Stillmunkes capped of the drive for the Spartans with a ten yard run. The Kohawks responded with with a ten play, 60 yard drive but came up empty as a Tristen Connell's 25-yard field goal missed wide left.
Coe failed to capitalize on good field position in the second quarter as the defensive set them up in or near Dubuque territory three straight possessions. Coe failed to convert on fourth down on back to back drives before having a promising drive end on a interception just before the half.
Coe came out of the halftime trailing 7-0 and for the second straight week got a big special teams play early in the third quarter.
AJ Christensen blocked a punt for the second straight week and returned it 22 yards to tie things at seven less than four minutes into the third quarter. Coe kept the momentum as the defense got a stop on fourth down to give the ball to the offense with a chance to take a lead. The Kohawks finally capped a drive off with a touchdown as they took it 57 yards on five plays.
Tyler Dralle punched it in from one yard out to give the Kohawks their first lead of the game. The Spartans came right back as Stillmunkes scored on a five yard run right before the end of the quarter to tie things at 14 going into the final quarter.
The Kohawks went three and out to open the quarter and had to punt the ball back to the Spartans. Dubuque kept momentum as they drove 72 yards on eight plays to retake the lead on a five yard touchdown pass from Sean Duffy to A.J. Hunter. The Spartans would miss the extra point leaving the door open for a touchdown to win the game for the Kohawks. Coe got three shots at driving for a winning score but never got closer than the Dubuque 45 yard line were
Quentin White's last second heave to the end zone fell short.
The game was extremely balanced as Dubuque held the edge on the ground 116-105 while Coe out gained Dubuque in the air 136-120 to give Coe a 241-236 advantage in total offense. While the yards were almost equal, red zone production was the big story of the game. The Kohawks converted one of four chances in the red zone while Dubuque was a perfect three for three.
In the wet conditions
Quentin White was 19 of 36 for 136 yards. Dralle carried the ball 19 times for 97 yards to lead the Kohawks rushing attack.
Mitch Stopko had three catches for 40 yards while
Colton White and
Max Teeple each had four catches. White finished with 29 yards while Teeple had 18. Defensively
Jacob Elsbury led the way with 11 tackles.
Brian Robertson added ten including a team high three tackles for a loss.
The Kohawks will return to Clark Field next Satuday, October 12th, as they host the Beavers of Buena Vista University. The game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. kickoff.
