Cedar Rapids Washington regroups to shut out Dubuque Senior

CEDAR RAPIDS — It may not have been the most glamorous performance, but thanks to a few adjustments and a workhorse, Cedar Rapids Washington tallied its first win of the 2018 season.

The Warriors defeated Dubuque Senior, 10-0, in a Class 4A non-district matchup Friday night at Kingston Stadium.

Washington was led by Ross Snitker, who ran the ball 32 times for 135 yards. Snitker was the lead back for the Warriors this week due to injuries in Washington's backfield.

'I haven't played running back this whole year, I usually play receiver,' Snitker said. 'All through metro youth football I played running back, so it was fun to be back in that role.'

Snitker even played a little quarterback. Well, in a way.

Washington (1-2) used a little trickery to get the scoring started as Snitker threw a halfback pass to Lincoln Riley for 28 yards, setting the Warriors up at Senior's 11-yard-line. Sophomore quarterback Henry Clymer then found fellow sophomore Justin Scherrman for an 11-yard TD to give Washington a 7-0 lead with 4:03 left in the first quarter.

Clymer made his first start for the Warriors, playing in place of injured Brayden Wright.

After taking a 7-0 lead, the Warriors defense held strong. Tyler Hansen came up with a big sack on a fourth-and-4 attempt that kept the Rams from scoring.

Then, just before half, the Warriors drove the ball down to Senior's 30-yard line. Facing a fourth down with just 32 seconds left, Washington elected to attempt a 47-yard field goal. Bennett Cooper hit it, with plenty of leg to spare.

'He's a good kicker,' Washington Coach Maurice Blue said. 'He's got a lot of leg.'

Ten points proved to be all that Washington would need.

Scherrman recovered a fumble early in the fourth quarter that kept the Rams (1-2) from scoring. And on Senior's next possession, Scherrman picked off quarterback Tommy Casey.