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Iowans among South Dakota State’s leaders, impressive run for Coe’s Trenton Barnes and more Iowa college football storylines this week
Cornell returns from bye week, former Mount Vernon quarterbacks playing in the American Rivers Conference
Oct. 4, 2024 4:13 pm
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Coe’s Trenton Barnes will try to extend his streak of 100-yard games. South Dakota State’s Adam Bock and Grahm Goering return to their home state. Cornell returns from a bye and former Mount Vernon quarterbacks have earned snaps in the American Rivers Conference. Here are five storylines in Iowa small college football this weekend.
Coe’s Trenton Barnes attempts to extend 100-yard game streak
Coe’s Trenton Barnes rushed for 185 yards on 42 carries last week in a 27-10 victory over Dubuque. The performance was his third straight 100-yard rushing games. Barnes, who leads the American Rivers Conference with 525 yards, rushed for 178 yards against Wisconsin-Eau Claire and 125 against Luther. He has become the No. 1 back for the Kohawks, who lost all-conference running back Ray Seidel to a leg injury. Barnes has been up to the task, scoring four touchdowns, averaging 5.3 yards per carry and more than 24 carries per game. Coe averages 248 rushing yards per game.
Now, the conference’s top rush attack faces one of the league’s most porous run defenses. The Kohawks (4-0, 2-0) play Loras (0-4, 0-2) Saturday at the Rock Bowl in Dubuque. Loras is seventh in the A-R-C, allowing 201.5 yards on the ground. The Duhawks give up 5.1 per carry and have surrendered 12 touchdowns. Barnes has the possibility for a fourth consecutive 100-yard game.
Iowans among FCS No. 1 South Dakota State’s leaders
South Dakota State takes on Northern Iowa Saturday at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. The top-ranked Jackrabbits have won the last two NCAA Division I FCS national titles. Former Solon linebacker Adam Bock and former Iowa City West receiver Grahm Goering have played key roles for SDSU.
Bock, a 6-foot-1, 225-pound senior, leads the Jackrabbits with 32 tackles, 15 solo stops and three tackles for loss. Bock played in the UNI-Dome for the Spartans, who reached the 2017 Class 3A semifinals.
Goering, a junior, is second on the team in receiving yards (167), touchdowns (two), yards per catch (15.18) and tied for second with 11 receptions.
Cornell returns from bye week
The Rams are coming off a bye week, hosting Ripon (Wis.) for Homecoming on Saturday at Ash Park’s Van Metre Field. Cornell suffered a tough 28-19 loss at home to Lake Forest two weeks ago.
The Rams scored 15 points in the final quarter for a 36-33 victory over Ripon last year. Cornell quarterback John Smith had a field day in that game against the Red Hawks, passing for 255 yards and four TDs and rushing for one more.
Smith has passed for 495 yards and three TDs this season, completing more than 60 percent of his passes. Ripon’s defense allows 261.33 passing yards and almost 400 yards of total offense per game. Both teams are 1-2 overall and 1-1 in the Midwest Conference, so it could be a matchup that gets Cornell back in the win column.
Former Mount Vernon quarterbacks in the American Rivers Conference
Two former Mount Vernon quarterbacks have earned playing time for American Rivers Conference programs. Brady Ketchum has stepped in as a full-time starter for Central, while his Mustang successor Joey Rhomberg has taken the field for Dubuque.
Ketchum ranks second with 231 passing yards per game. His 693 total passing yards is good for fourth overall. Ketchum opened the season passing for 362 yards and five TDs in a win over Illinois Wesleyan. He has helped the Dutch (3-1, 1-1) to two of their victories, but didn’t play last week against Buena Vista. Central hosts Simpson on Saturday.
Rhomberg has played in three games for the Spartans, including reserve duties last week against Coe. He passed for 144 yards and a TD and led the team in rushing, playing in the second half. Rhomberg has thrown for 357 yards and two scores this season.
Iowa schools still dominate NAIA rankings
Iowa has four football programs in the top 11 of the NAIA national poll. Northwestern and Grand View remained second and third in the latest rankings. Both teams are 4-0 and the Red Raiders received one first-place vote. Dordt (3-0) moved up one space to eighth, while Morningside (4-1) climbed a spot to No. 11. None of the teams play each other this week.
Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com
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