Warriors blast Linn-Mar, 49-14

CEDAR RAPIDS - They got a stop, then a score. The Linn-Mar Lions opened the game with all the momentum.

All those good feelings went poof in 18 seconds.

That's how long it took Tavian Patrick to run a kickoff 93 yards for an equalizing touchdown. It didn't stay equalized for long: No. 7 Cedar Rapids Washington scored five touchdowns in the span of 11 minutes in the second quarter and whipped the Lions, 49-14, in a Class 4A non-district football game Thursday night at Kingston Stadium.

'I'm extremely happy with the way we responded,” said Washington Coach Paul James. 'It generally takes our defense a series to settle in. We tightened things up a great deal.”

Washington (3-1) was outplayed early and outgained through the first quarter. But that quickly became a mere footnote as the Warriors started getting the ball to their numerous playmakers, and the big plays followed.

'We want to be diverse and spread the wealth,” said Patrick, who finished with three touchdowns. 'Everybody can be a game-changer.”

Patrick was the momentum-shifter. After the Lions (1-3) took the lead on their opening possession (Reese Phillips hit Daniel Gorsich on a 32-yard pass on third-and-31), Patrick got the score right back.

He took the ball at the 7 and followed his blocks.

'It was a return right,” he said. 'I'm confident in all my blockers. I tried to be patient on that last block, then I hit the gas.”

It was tied 7-7 after a quarter, then the Warriors rolled up 250 yards in the second period and scored five times.

Johnny Dobbs scored on a 4-yard touchdown run to start the second quarter, then got loose for a 36-yard scamper on the next possession to make it 21-7.

Washington was far from finished on its scoring spree.

T.J. Vogel hit Isaiah Nimmers on a quick pass to the right flat, and Nimmers turned it into a 77-yard scoring play. Then it was Patrick on a 33-yard run and Dallas Hobbs on a 3-yard pass from Vogel.

It was 42-7 at intermission, then the entire second half was played under a continuous clock.

Patrick added a 32-yard TD run to make it 49-7, thus ending his night early. He finished with 105 rushing yards on six carries.

Linn-Mar got a late 3-yard touchdown run from Cevan Walton.

Phillips stepped awkwardly on a rollout in the second quarter and did not return.

Both teams begin district action next Friday. Washington is at Muscatine; Linn-Mar is at Waterloo East.

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com