Dylan Muszynski runs, runs, runs Class 5A No. 8 Linn-Mar past Cedar Rapids Kennedy

CEDAR RAPIDS — One play. That was it.

That was Dylan Muszynski’s contribution to last year’s Linn-Mar/Cedar Rapids Kennedy football game. He suffered a high-ankle sprain on the very first play and sat the rest of the way.

But the Lions’ very talented senior running back was fully healthy Friday night at Kingston Stadium. And Kennedy paid for that.

Muszynski rushed 25 times for 272 yards, two touchdowns and a two-point conversion as Class 5A eighth-ranked Linn-Mar beat its rival, 21-7.

“Last year, very first play ... Very tough,” Muszynski said. “Wanted to come out here and show them what I’m all about.”

So what’s he all about?

“I’m about trusting my guys and making plays when I can,” Muszynski said.

Those made plays included an 82-yard touchdown burst over the middle late in the first quarter. It included a 45-yard cut-heavy run that set up a 25-yard Bradley Duncan-Porter field goal for a 10-7 lead in the second quarter.

Also along the way was a 33-yarder in which he showed his quick feet with an array of cuts: bobbing and weaving past the defense. His second TD came from 8 yards out on a pitch play with 6:20 left in the game, his ensuing two-point run coming off a fake of an extra point.

“Very tired,” Muszynski said. “I’m going to sleep like a baby tonight.”

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“I saw Dylan as a determined running back tonight,” said Linn-Mar co-head coach Ben Martens. “But I saw 10 other guys out there giving their best effort to set him up for everything he was able to do. He’s a special talent, but he’s still got to have those guys up front do their part, and they did really well tonight.”

Then there were the defensive guys for the Lions (3-0), who forced three turnovers: two fumble recoveries and an interception in the end zone by Brody Pata, as Kennedy was deep in Linn-Mar territory, seemingly poised to make it a one-possession game in the fourth quarter.

Kennedy (0-3) got some things going offensively but had difficulty finishing those things. Quarterback Vinny Gianforte’s 6-yard run in the second quarter was the Cougars’ lone touchdown.

While Linn-Mar piled up 410 total yards, Kennedy was limited to 252. It’s why the Cougars lost to the Lions for the first time since 2014.

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Photos: Linn-Mar at Cedar Rapids Kennedy high school football

“We don’t hold onto the ball, we don’t do a good job tackling, and we don’t get off the field on third down,” said Kennedy Coach Brian White. “Those are three pretty good indicators of success. It’s unique territory when you have the football players, but we don’t execute.

“We talked about what we have to do to turn it around. Thankfully we have a model in West Des Moines Valley. Started 0-5 and played for a state championship, right? So it’s not over.”

Linn-Mar has a good Bettendorf team next week.

“You can start talking about the all the history (with Kennedy) and all that,” said Linn-Mar co-head coach Chad Tompkins. “But we’ve been telling the kids it’s a step forward each and every single week. Our talk in there was this is a great win, yes, it’s been a long time since we’d beaten them. Enjoy it, and tomorrow it’s time to move on to Bettendorf. That’s got to be our mindset.”

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Linn-Mar 21, Cedar Rapids Kennedy 7

(At Kingston Stadium)

Linn-Mar 7 6 8 0-21

C.R. Kennedy 0 7 0 0- 7

Team Statistics

First Downs - Linn-Mar 17, Kennedy 15. Rushes-Yards - Linn-Mar 42-346, Kennedy 32-139. Passing - Linn-Mar 6-9-0-64, Kennedy 13-21-1-113. Total Yards - Linn-Mar 410, Kennedy 252. Penalties-Yards - Linn-Mar 3-24, Kennedy 5-28. Punts-Average - Linn-Mar 2-31.5, Kennedy 4-32.8. Fumbles-Lost - Linn-Mar 1-1, Kennedy 2-2.

Individual Statistics

Linn-Mar - Rushing: Dylan Muszynski 25-272, Tyree Alons 5-34, Emerson Gasper 7-27, Austin Waller 4-15, Team 1-(minus) 2. Passing: Austin Waller 6-9-0-64. Receiving: Daniel Peplinski 1-25, Bryson Miell 2-17, Carson Fairley 1-12, Landon Sorg 1-10, Dylan Muszynski 1-0.

Kennedy - Rushing: Jacob Doyle 17-78, Damarian Orr 8-64, Vinny Gianforte 7-(minus) 3. Passing: Vinny Gianforte 13-21-1-113. Receiving: Dawson Dougherty 3-35, Deacon Kucera 2-26, Brayden Peck 3-23, Brayden Alber 1-10, Pierce McCrary 1-9, Josiah Smith 2-8, Jacob Doyle 1-2.

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