Santana Miller’s trio of touchdowns highlights Iowa City West’s big win Cedar Rapids Jefferson

CEDAR RAPIDS — Iowa City West’s Santana Miller takes the football field with the intent to do whatever his team needs to succeed.

Whether it is at linebacker, running back or on special teams, he looks to do anything possible for the Trojans to come out on top.

“I want to do everything to help this team,” Miller said. “I love this team. I love these boys, school (and) coaches I play for. The coaches are setting me up to be a great player so I’m going to make sure I give them 100 percent on everything. I do it for everyone out here.”

Miller scored offensive, defensive and special teams touchdowns and accounted for half of West’s points in a 44-0 victory over Cedar Rapids Jefferson on Homecoming Night at Kingston Stadium.

“We came out angry,” Miller said about rebounding from last week’s Homecoming loss to Ankeny. “We really wanted this game. We’re going to want to continue to play every game like it’s the playoffs.”

The Trojans senior rushed for a score before blocking a punt and returning it for a touchdown in the second quarter. He added an interception for a touchdown in the fourth to cap the scoring. Add in a pair of two-point conversions and Miller scored 22 total points.

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Photos: Cedar Rapids Jefferson vs. Iowa City West football

“I don’t think I’ve had one like that,” Miller said. “Maybe close but definitely not one like tonight.

“Tonight will definitely be one that I’ll have to remember, but at the end of the day it was a team job. All of my teammates helping me and setting me up so I can be in the right place to make those plays.”

Miller’s competitive streak and team-first mentality isn’t just lip service. West Coach Garrett Hartwig confirmed that Miller would do whatever asked.

“Santana just wants to be on the field,” Hartwig said. “He doesn’t care if he’s the holder, linebacker or quarterback. He just wants to be on the field and play.”

The primary position is linebacker. Hartwig said Miller is one of the hardest hitters in that position West has had for a long time. He noted Miller is a talented all-around player, who is in good game shape to display it in all three phases.

“We’ve always known he could do some things for us offensively,” Hartwig said. “When you have a weapon like him on defense, I’d be a fool not to utilize him on special teams. He made plays on both spots tonight.”

Miller stole the show early in the second quarter to double West’s lead. He scored on a 4-yard TD run, ending an 80-yard, six-play series.

Miller provided the special teams score, corralling the blocked punt and rumbling 16 yards for his second TD. Miller also added his second two-point conversion to make it 30-0 with 7:42 left before the break.

His 86-yard interception return in the fourth capped the scoring. He reeled in the pass, watched a Jefferson player miss him and had an open field in front of him.

“I just put my head down and said I got to go,” Miller said. “I’ve got to make this end zone. I was seeing green, put my head down and was gone.”

West (3-3, 1-1) dominated before the break with a 37-0 advantage, scoring on its first four possessions and receiving a special teams TD.

Trojans quarterback Jack Wallace was nearly perfect in the first half. The junior signal caller missed on just one of 10 pass attempts — a downfield fling to try and squeeze one more score in a productive first half. Otherwise, Wallace was on point and too much for the J-Hawks defense, posting all 165 passing yards in two quarters.

Wallace and receiver Mason Woods sparked the Trojans. They connected for a 37-yard TD pass on third-and-8 for the first score.

The Trojans capitalized on a short field. They went 40 yards on eight plays. Ashton Honore capped the drive with a 13-yard TD run to make it 15-0 with 4:11 left in the first.

After Miller’s two TDs, Wallace added a 2-yard TD run with 3:07 left before halftime, helping West enact a running clock for the entire second half.

Jefferson (4-2, 0-2) was without starting quarterback Jeremiah Peiffer, who was injured. The J-Hawks managed 194 yards of offense with much of it coming in the second half. Vernon Benda and Thierry Boyd combined to pass for 84 yards. Carter Bronson had two catches for 38 yards. Bertin Gisubizo rushed for 54 yards and Daunte Washington added 35 yards on seven carries.

Jefferson hosts Cedar Rapids Prairie next week. West hosts Cedar Rapids Washington.

Iowa City West 44, Cedar Rapids Jefferson 0

AT KINGSTON STADIUM

ICW CRJ

First Downs 11 9

Rushes-yards 22-74 27-110

Passing yards 165 84

Comp-att-int 9-11-0 10-21-3

Total yards 239 194

Fumbles-lost 0-0 2-0

Punts-avg. 2-31.5 2-37.0

Penalties-yards 2-15 5-49

Iowa City West152207 -- 44

C.R. Jefferson 0000 -- 0

ICW – Mason Woods 37 pass from Jack Wallace (Santana Miller rush)

ICW – Ashton Honore 13 run (Evan Anderson kick)

ICW – Miller 4 run (Anderson kick)

ICW – Miller 16 punt block return (Miller rush)

ICW – Wallace 2 run (Anderson kick)

ICW – Miller 86 interception return (Anderson kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING – I.C. West: Honore 3-34, Wallace 2-20, Marquise Rose 4-15, Butali Butali 7-11, Miller 2-4, Jacob Gilliam 1-1, Campbell Janis 1-(-3), Aaron Honore 2-(-8). C.R. Jefferson: Bertin Gisubizo 1-54, Daunte Washington 7-35, Ishara Kalolero 10-23, Thierry Boyd 2-4, Aidan O’Connor 1-1, Vernon Benda 7-(-7).

PASSING – I.C. West: Wallace 9-11-0-165. C.R. Jefferson Benda 9-17-1-62, Boyd 1-4-2-22.

RECEIVING – I.C. West: Woods 3-61, Izaiah Loveless 3-42, Erik Caperon 2-43, Gilliam 1-19. C.R. Jefferson: L.J. Nyenow 3-21, Carter Bronson 2-38, Boyd 2-18, O’Connor 2-6, Washington 1-1.