Little Hawks capitalize, smash Kennedy

IOWA CITY -- A short field led to a long night for the Kennedy Cougars.

Ninth-ranked Iowa City High feasted on five takeaways, including an interception for a touchdown by Jeremy Johnson, and subdued Cedar Rapids Kennedy, 48-26, in a Class 4A first-round football playoff Wednesday night at Bates Field.

Johnson got in the end zone, and the Little Hawks (8-2) started three drives inside the red zone in winning a game not nearly as close as the final score would indicate.

"We have kids that are able to make plays," said City High Coach Dan Sabers. "We were a pretty focused team tonight."

The Little Hawks were at full attention because Kennedy (5-5) stayed with them for a half during their regular-season game, and because the Cougars have developed a reputation as postseason bracket-busters.

Kennedy stunned Bettendorf two years ago, then took out Cedar Rapids Xavier and North Scott last year.

There was no upset this time.

The Little Hawks built a 41-6 halftime lead, then weathered some turnover issues of their own. Kennedy got within 41-26 on Josh Jahlas' 33-yard touchdown reception with 5:37 to go, forcing Sabers to reinsert his starters.

Jasper Washington's 17-yard TD run with 4:12 left restored order.

Statistics leaned Kennedy's way (the Cougars outgained City High, 364-271), but statistics didn't tell the story.

The Little Hawks advance to play No. 6 Cedar Falls (9-1) in the second round Monday in the UNI-Dome.

City High scored on its first drive -- Ronald Thompson scored the first of his three touchdowns on a 3-yard run -- and the Little Hawks were on their way.

On Kennedy's second play, Jasper Washington intercepted Jimmy Lizarraga, and his 24-yard return put City High in business at the Cougars 11.

Washington scored three plays later from 5 yards out to make it 13-0.

Turnovers and punt returns allowed City High to start three of their first-half drives at the Kennedy 11, the Kennedy 10 and the Kennedy 1. And that doesn't include Johnson's interception return, a 42-yarder that made it 27-0 at the 8:17 mark of the second quarter.

"We watched a lot of film and the coaches prepared us well," Johnson said. "We were learning their routes. After I intercepted the pass, my teammates blocked for me and I was able to get in the end zone."

Johnson added a 63-yard touchdown reception, and almost made it an offense/defense/special teams trifecta. He returned a punt to the Kennedy 1 to set up one of Thompson's TDs.

"Our defense and our special teams, we think we can take advantage of teams with that," Johnson said.

The short field made for easy scoring.

"That definitely helped a lot," Washington said. "When you've got 20 yards or less to go and you have Ronald Thompson in the backfield, that's north-and-south football, and that's what we do best."

Kennedy Coach Tim Lewis said, "(City High) was doing a great job of taking away what we do best. The first half, we didn't have anything working, and they took advantage of every opportunity we gave them."

The Cougars put up some impressive (though misleading) numbers. Trevor Heitland rushed for 175 yards, and Lizarraga passed for 149. But Lizarraga was picked off four times in an 11-for-35 performance and lost a fumble.

Alex Hillyer's 92-yard kickoff return accounted for Kennedy's first TD.

TEAM STATISTICS

CR Kennedy

IC City High

First downs

16

13

Rushes-yards

35 - 215

39 - 153

Passing yards

149

118

Comp-Att-Int

11 - 35 - 4

5 - 7 - 0

Total yards

364

271

Fumbles-lost

2 - 1

4 - 3

Punts-average

4 - 32.8

2 - 44.5

Penalties-yards

2 - 18

1 - 15

Rushing:

 CR Kennedy –

Trevor Heitland 19-175 ,

Alex Hillyer 11-37 ,

Jimmy Lizarraga 5-3

 IC City High –

Ronald Thompson 17-66 ,

Jasper Washington 9-57 ,

Isaiah Washpun 4-19 ,

Kody Dailey 3-10 ,

Tyler Stika 3-4 ,

Cortez Barfield 1-0 ,

Xavier Washpun 1--1 ,

Team 1--2

Passing:

 CR Kennedy –

Lizarraga 11-35-4-149

 IC City High –

Washington 5-7-0-118

Receiving:

 CR Kennedy –

Heitland 4-57 ,

Josh Jahlas 2-44 ,

Hillyer 2-23 ,

Shane Williams 2-17 ,

Jacob Frazier-Flores 1-8

 IC City High –

Jeremy Johnson 2-70 ,

Tony Perry 2-35 ,

Steve Ferentz 1-13

CR Kennedy

6

20

–

26

IC City High

13

28

7

–

48

ICH - Ronald Thompson 3 run (kick blocked)

ICH - Jasper Washington 5 run (Drew Cornwell kick)

ICH - Thompson 1 run (Cornwell kick)

ICH - Jeremy Johnson 42 interception return (Cornwell kick)

ICH - Thompson 1 run (Cornwell kick)

CRK - Alex Hillyer 92 kickoff return (pass failed)

ICH - Johnson 63 pass from Washington (Cornwell kick)

CRK - Trevor Heitland 30 run (Jordan Holzer kick)

CRK - Heitland 14 run (Holzer kick)

CRK - Josh Jahlas 33 pass from Jimmy Lizarraga (kick blocked)

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ICH - Washington 17 run (Cornwell kick)