Cedar Rapids Kennedy outlasts Iowa City West, 27-20

IOWA CITY — At the end, Jeron Senters was an eye guy. And an instinct guy.

“We were going against a young quarterback, and he didn’t look anybody off,” Senters said. “I just jumped on what I saw.”

Senters’ interception with 1:58 left sealed Cedar Rapids Kennedy’s 27-20 win over Iowa City West on Friday at Trojan Field.

Jazan Williams ran for 179 yards and two touchdowns, the second of which (a 2-yarder) gave Kennedy (1-0) the lead for good with 2:47 to go.

After halftime, Williams carried it 21 times for 127 yards. The key carry came moments before the go-ahead TD.

A good punt return put the Cougars in business at the West 35 with 3:32 left. On the first play, Williams was met at the line of scrimmage, but ran through the tackle and got loose for a 33-yard run.

“We were just working hard,” said Williams, who finished with an exhausting 33 carries on a hot night. “This feels good. Great win.”

Senters’ interception was the second biggie for the Cougars against West freshman quarterback Jack Wallace.

Dominic Mann opened the scoring with a 22-yard return for touchdown, less than two minutes into the game. Mann jumped the route on a screen pass and was home free.

West (0-1) righted itself and battled back for a 14-7 lead. Wallace hooked up with Christian Janis for an 8-yard touchdown pass, then Mason Applegate scored on a 25-yard run.

Kennedy knotted it at 14-14 when Carson Blietz connected with C.J. Coker for a 27-yard TD on fourth-and-3 with 4:11 left in the second quarter.

The teams traded touchdowns — and blown PAT attempts — in the second half.

Williams scored on a 4-yard run with 5:12 remaining in the third quarter to put Kennedy back in front, then Wallace scored on a 1-yard fourth-down sneak at the 9:46 mark of the fourth.

A transfer from Linn-Mar, Senters was playing in his first game in a Cougars jersey.

“As part of the first game, you’ve got those jitters,” he said. “After halftime, I felt a lot more comfortable and played my game.”

After Senters’ pick and return to the West 15, the Cougars ran three plays, then West jumped offside on a field goal attempt and Kennedy ran out the clock.

The Cougars held West to 184 yards of total offense. Wallace was 10 of 21 for 108 yards in his varsity debut.

Kennedy hosts Bettendorf next week; West is at Muscatine.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com