Cedar Rapids Prairie knocks off No. 5 Southeast Polk: ‘Our kids just never gave in’

CEDAR RAPIDS — Kyle Knock saw what his college alma mater did last Saturday and used that message all week with his Prairie football team.

The former Iowa State tight end took a page from the Cyclone playbook that got them a comeback win at Iowa.

“We preached all week about what (ISU Coach) Matt Campbell said in his postgame speech last week,” Knock said. “He said you had to be tougher, longer if you want to win.”

The Hawks followed the formula to perfection and the end result was a 30-20 upset win over No. 5 Southeast Polk on Friday night at John Wall Field.

“We physically beat them up,” Knock said. “Honestly, I didn't see that coming but I'm so proud of these kids for their effort tonight.”

Prairie (2-1) gave an indication of what kind of night it might be on its first drive. Even though they turned it over on downs, the Hawks held the ball for over half of the quarter.

On Southeast Polk’s first drive, junior Brady Peterka grabbed the first of his two interceptions and his 50-yard return set up Prairie’s first score, a 10-yard pass from Wyatt Eash to David Fason.

Prairie upped the lead to 14-0 on its next drive. Junior Bjay Bush Jr. turned a straight dive play into a 48-yard TD run.

“There was a lot of stuff going through my head,” said Bush, who broke several tackles on his way to the end zone. “I know my teammates needed me tonight and I just wanted to finish it.”

The Prairie defense held the Rams to 10 total rushing yards, which forced the visitors to rely almost exclusively on the pass to move the ball. That passing attack allowed the Rams to score twice in the second quarter.

Senior receiver Sam Zelenovich, who committed to Iowa State earlier this week, scored on pass plays of 21 and 58 yards in the final five minutes of the first half to get the game tied at intermission.

“We talked a lot at halftime, telling them if we stick together, nobody can pull us apart,” Knock said.

Zelenovich finished with 10 catches for 198 yards, but only had four grabs in the second half for 46 yards. Peterka had a second interception and had a third wiped away by a pass interference call. Keaton Mullins had two picks in the fourth quarter as the Rams tried to mount a rally.

“Our defense made some adjustments to try and take away (Zelenovich),” Knock said. “He's a helluva football player and they are a good football team. They're tough, hard to beat and they just kept coming. Our kids just never gave in.”

The Hawks regained control after halftime, marching down the field on their first drive, taking the lead back on a 37-yard field goal from Junior Boxa. With Bush out with cramping late in the third and early in the fourth quarter, senior Quinton Alexander took over. He scored on runs of 1 and 58 yards to give Prairie a 30-14 lead with 9:22 remaining.

“We were facing adversity, that's the main thing we focused on in practice,” Bush said. “I'm proud of (Alexander). He stepped in when we needed him.”

Bush finished with 108 yards on 19 carries. Alexander had 92 yards on eight carries. Eash completed 10 of 14 passes for 127 yards. Fason had five catches for 96 yards.

For the Rams, quarterback Holden Hansen was 17-of-33 for 265 yards and also ran for a late score in the fourth quarter.

Prairie remains at home next Friday, hosting Pleasant Valley. The Rams (1-2) are on the road to play No. 4 Ankeny Centennial.