Cedar Rapids Kennedy special teams do it all in 27-6 win over Cedar Rapids Washington

CEDAR RAPIDS — Special teams? You bet they were.

“They carried us most of the game,” Cedar Rapids Kennedy quarterback Vincenzo Gianforte said. “And that’s a fact.”

A blocked punt for a touchdown. A recovered onside kick. Two field goals, by two different kickers. A blocked PAT.

Class 5A fifth-ranked Cedar Rapids Kennedy did all of that in a 27-6 Metro football triumph over 4A No. 9 Cedar Rapids Washington on Friday at Kingston Stadium.

Special teams? You bet they were.

And that’s a fact.

“From Day 1, we tell our guys that we have 77 starters,” Kennedy Coach Brian White said after the Cougars went to 3-0. “Eleven on offense, 11 on defense, 55 on special teams.

“We have guys who want to play special teams. We consider them starters, and they can get a letter just by playing on special teams.”

They got a letter Friday, all right. They got an A-plus.

The teams played through a scoreless first quarter, with neither team gaining much traction offensively. The Cougars had Washington (2-1) backed up early in the second quarter, and put on a punt-block effort.

Anthony Franklin got his hand on it, the ball fell in Cade Thorstenson’s hands, and the Cougars had themselves a touchdown.

“I got around the outside and blocked it,” Franklin said. “I told my coach I was going to get it. I went for it, and I got it.”

Franklin was one of about five Cougars who were buzzing toward the punter. Thorstenson was another.

“I was right in the ‘A’ gap, between the center and the guard,” Thorstenson said. “I looked up, saw the ball and caught it.

“It felt great. So much energy and adrenaline. My first touchdown ever. I had to celebrate it.”

Dylan Augustine’s 32-yard field goal gave Kennedy a 10-0 halftime lead, then Lwings Kabula converted from 30 yards in the third quarter to make it 13-0.

Kennedy added two offensive touchdowns in a span of 17 seconds.

Gianforte connected with Cyrus Courtney on an 18-yard score to cap the Cougars’ best drive of the night — seven plays, 49 yards. Then after a personal foul on Washington allowed the Cougars to kick off from the Warriors 45, they opted for the onside kick and recovered it at the 29.

On the next play, Gianforte hit Calvin White for another TD to make it 27-0.

“The second half, we did the little things a lot better,” Gianforte said. “The first (touchdown) was a high-level catch by Courtney.

“Then we took a shot on the onside kick, a great call. We got the ball back, ran our signature effort play and we scored again.”

Kennedy won the yardage battle, 290-147, holding the Warriors to 31 rushing yards on 26 carries. Gianforte passed for 135 yards; Donovan Slick-Driscoll carried it 21 times for 118 yards.

Washington got a late touchdown pass from Malik Epps-Keller to Michael Blank.

Both teams are back at Kingston next week: Washington faces Linn-Mar on Thursday; Kennedy meets Cedar Rapids Jefferson on Friday.

Cedar Rapids Kennedy 27, Cedar Rapids Washington 6

AT KINGSTON STADIUM

TEAM STATISTICS

First downs: CRW 11, CRK 15

Rushes-yards: CRW 26-31, CRK 41-155

Passing yards: CRW 116, CRK 135

Passing: CRW 13-21-0, CRK 8-16-0

Total yards: CRW 147, CRK 290

Fumbles-lost: CRW 2-0, CRK 2-1

Punts-average: CRW 8-30.3, CRK 3-34.0

Penalties-yards: CRW 2-20, CRK 4-38

SCORING SUMMARY

C.R. Washington 0 0 0 6 — 6

C.R. Kennedy 0 10 17 0 — 27

CRK — Cade Thorstenson recovery of blocked punt in end zone (Dylan Augustine kick)

CRK — FG Augustine 32

CRK — FG Lwings Kabula 30

CRK — Cyrus Courtney 18 pass from Vincenzo Gianforte (Kabula kick)

CRK — Calvin White 29 pass from Gianforte (Augustine kick)

CRW — Michael Blank 21 pass from Malik Epps-Keller (kick blocked)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing

Washington: Alex Taylor 8-39, Watts McBride 13-11, Malik Epps-Keller 1-(minus 2), Stephen Cain 4-(minus 17). Kennedy: Donovan Slick-Driscoll 21-118, Tyler Bartels 6-18, Calvin White 3-11, Trevor Scott 4-9, Ryker Stelling 1-5, Anthony Franklin 1-0, Vincenzo Gianforte 2-(minus 4), Team 1-(minus 2).

Passing

Washington: Cain 10-14-0-70, Epps-Keller 3-7-0-46. Kennedy: Gianforte 8-16-0-135.

Receiving

Washington: Michael Blank 6-55, Grant Mahoney 3-32, Leighton Charters 1-14, Miles Thompson 1-8, Brock Davis 1-6, Taylor 1-1. Kennedy: Cyrus Courtney 4-43, Grant Mather 1-45, White 1-29, Michael Mulherin 1-10, Nick Woods 1-8.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com