Coe clinches Iowa Conference football crown

CEDAR RAPIDS — The last four seasons have elapsed quickly for Coe's Andrew Netolicky.

The defensive lineman and the rest of the seniors will have a lasting memory of possibly their last home game, even if the rest has seemed like a blur.

The 15th-ranked Kohawks dominated both sides of the ball, getting 113 rushing yards and two touchdowns from Brandon Roseberry, in a 48-7 victory over Buena Vista Saturday at Clark Field. The victory clinched the Iowa Conference title and an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III playoffs.

'It is what we've wanted to do the past four years,' Netolicky said. 'It is what we've worked for.

'In August, when we first came in for the first meeting we said we want to be conference champions. No one picked us to be here. We all believed in ourselves and everyone in the program believed in going 1-0 each week and now we're 9-0 and won conference.'

The Kohawks earned their first conference crown since 2012, which was the last unbeaten regular season. The blowout was a great way to celebrate Senior Day.

'They played their hearts out,' Staker said of the senior class. 'They've just given a lot to the program. I'm just really proud of those guys.'

The 6-foot-3, 287-pounder from Cedar Rapids Prairie has been a contributor to the Kohawks' defensive front the last couple seasons. Netolicky had two tackles, two pass break ups and hurried Buena Vista quarterback Cole Miller. He is also part of a large contingent of Eastern Iowa players, who have helped Coe to a 9-0 overall record and 7-0 IIAC mark.

'Our defensive line is solid all the way around,' said Staker, noting that Netolicky, former Cedar Rapids Xavier prep Daniel Vega and Jake Morris, from Solon, form a stout interior rotation. 'Andrew, being a senior, is one of our leaders up front.'

The defense stifled the Beavers (2-6, 2-4) in the opening half and most of the game. The Kohawks forced two turnovers before Buena Vista even managed a first down.

Dylan Stepleton picked off Miller on the second play of the game, leading to 9-yard TD pass from Gavin Glenn to Trevor Heitland, who made a spin move to lose a defender and slipped to the end zone.

After two field goals from Brandon Abbas, who set a Coe school record with his 12th field goal of the season, Jarred Hodges nabbed a Miller throw that led to an 11-yard TD pass to Roseberry. The Kohawks took a 20-0 lead with 1:08 left in the first quarter.

Everyone wanted to send the seniors out on top.

'We were all fired up from the start,' Roseberry said. 'The first touchdown we scored was really huge and we kept going. We had an all gas, no brakes mentality.'

Roseberry had a career day. He finished with his first 100-yard rushing game for the Kohawks and amassed 133 total yards. Heitland, the IIAC rushing leader, added 84 yards on the ground but had a team-high seven catches for 52 yards. Coe rushed for a total of 268 yards.

'The line set the tone from the start,' Roseberry said. 'They played a lights-out game. When you can run behind those guys, it is fun. They just found their groove early. We were able to pound the ball.'

Roseberry is used in various situations, especially when Heitland is used as a receiver or split up to loosen the defense. He had TD runs of 11 and 5 yards, helping Coe to a 41-0 edge with less than six minutes to go in the third.

'He had an awesome game,' Staker said. 'He played fantastic.'

The Kohawks were pretty effective in the air, extending their win streak to 10 games that started with a win over the Beavers to close last season. The win streak is the third-longest current streak in D-III.

Glenn threw for 275 yards and three scores, hitting a wide open Demetrius Harper for a 37-yard TD pass in the first possession of the second half. Harper led the Kohawks with 82 receiving yards.

Coe was able to rest its starters in the final quarter and begin their bye week a little earlier. Staker said they will take some time off to rest and heal, coming back Wednesday to prepare for the regular-season finale at Simpson on Nov. 12.

The Kohawks have a chance for their sixth unbeaten regular season in program history. They also will be able to tune up for the postseason.

'We can't overlook them at all,' Netolicky said of Simpson. 'We have to go in there and dominate them and be ready for the playoffs, whoever and wherever we play.'

l Comments: (319) 368-8679; kj.pilcher@thegazette.com