Cedar Rapids Kennedy romps Davenport West, 44-0

CEDAR RAPIDS — On paper, the game promised to be competitive.

Cedar Rapids Kennedy was ranked ninth, coming off its lone loss of the season. Davenport West was one of just two unbeaten Class 5A teams, gaining recognition for its start.

The game was played on turf, however, and that provided a much different outcome. A more lopsided affair.

The Cougars ran roughshod over the Falcons, scoring on their first four possessions of the game and three in the second half for a 44-0 victory in a prep football game Friday night at Kingston Stadium. Kennedy amassed 315 yards and four touchdowns on the ground in the romp.

The result checked off multiple boxes for Cougars Coach Brian White.

“We’re going to get physical, establish the run and we did,” White said. “We’re going to play fast defense and I thought we did. We’re going to play good special teams and with the exception of PAT I thought we did. We just wanted to get back to playing Kennedy football.”

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Photos: Davenport West vs. Cedar Rapids Kennedy football

Kennedy’s signature style of play starts up front at the line of scrimmage. The Cougars won the battle in the trenches, pushing the Falcons around, especially after halftime. Kennedy rushed 43 times with just four negative plays. Jacob Doyle rushed for 95 yards — all in the second half — Donovan Slick-Driscoll added 86 on just four runs, including a 66-yard TD on the second play of the third for a 30-0 lead. Anthony Franklin accounted for 52 on 10 carries.

“They let us know they’re going to put it on our (offensive line) backs,” Senior Maxx Meyer said. “We’re going to have to step up to the challenge. We work on it every practice.”

After the Slick-Driscoll scoring burst, Kennedy recovered an onside kick that resulted in a Calvin White 2-yard TD rush. Doyle added an 18-yard scoring run to cap the scoring with one minute left before the fourth.

“We stepped it up in the second half,” Meyer said. “We brought it. We had that fire in us after half. Just put the nail in the coffin.”

The Cougars (6-1) set the tone early, holding West shy of midfield on the first drive of the game. They responded with a 73-yard drive on nine plays. Vicenzo Gianforte hit Michael Mulherin on a 19-yard TD for a 6-0 lead when the extra point failed.

Dylan Augustine made a 31-yard field goal late in the first quarter for a 9-0 lead and the Cougars pulled away in the second quarter.

Dominic Mann scored on a 24-yard run to make it 16-0 with 3:31 left before half. Kennedy stifled West again and Mann’s 24-yard punt return gave the Cougars another scoring opportunity with a little more than two minutes remaining.

On the first snap of the possession, Gianforte hit a wide open Cyrus Courtney for a 46-yard scoring strike and 23-0 lead at the break.

“It was a play-action pass and they were coming down on the run,” Courtney said. “I did a double move and ran right past him. He threw a good ball.”

He realized he was all alone but had to concentrate to make the catch and finish the play.

“I was just like ‘Look it in. Look it in.’ and into my hands,” Courtney said. “Then, it was just like practice. It happens all the time.”

Courtney made a variety of catches, going across the middle and making an ankle-breaking move for a 47-yard gain to set up Mann’s scoring run. He had 102 receiving yards and had 16 rushing.

“Cyrus Courtney is a weapon,” White said. “He is an extremely good high school receiver.”

Gianforte ended with 147 passing yards and the Kennedy defense allowed less than 60 yards to West, including negative rushing yards. The Falcons (6-1) managed just four first downs.

The Cougars rebounded from the setback to Cedar Falls and now have another tough test at Johnston next week.

“Every game is critical for us,” White said. “Next week against Johnston is crucial as well.”

C.R. KENNEDY 44

DAVENPORT WEST 0

AT KINGSTON STADIUM

DWCRK

First Downs 4 17

Rushes-yards20-(-11)43-315

Passing yards 68 147

Comp-att-int 8-19-17-12-0

Total yards 57 462

Fumbles-lost 0-0- 1-0

Punts-avg. 7-25.0 1-30.0

Penalties-yards 2-10 5-45

Davenport West0 0 00 – 0

C.R. Kennedy9 14 210 -- 44

CRK – Michael Mulherin 19 pass from Vicenzo Gianforte (kick failed)

CRK – FG Dylan Augustine 31

CRK – Dominic Mann 24 run (Augustine kick)

CRK – Cyrus Courtney 46 pass from Gianforte (Augustine kick)

CRK– Donovan Slick-Driscoll 66 run (Lwings Kabula kick)

CRK – Calvin White 2 run (Kabula kick)

CRK – Jacob Doyle 18 run (Kabula kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING – Davenport West: Ian Keeney 6-5, Luke Mattson 2-2, Ashton Urmie 4-(-5), Marvin Neely IV 1-(-6), Brady Hansen 7-(-7). C.R. Kennedy: Jacob Doyle 10-95, Donovan Slick-Driscoll 4-86, Anthony Franklin 10-52, Dominic Mann 4-37, Aaron Slaymaker 8-27, Cyrus Courtney 2-16, Calvin White 2-6, Cole Turner 1-2, Vincenzo Gianforte 2-(-6).

PASSING – Davenport West: Hansen 8-19-1-68. C.R. Kennedy: Gianforte 7-11-0-147, Jace Scott 0-1-0-0.

RECEIVING – Davenport West: Dalton Thompson 1-26, Landon Wright 3-17, Mitch Erwin 2-16, Keeney 1-7, Kelton Youngberg 1-2. C.R. Kennedy: Courtney 3-102, Michael Mulherin 3-32, Jordan Twitty 1-13.