Beyer helps No. 10 Kennedy upset No. 3 Washington

CEDAR RAPIDS - Shaun Beyer expects a big crowd of family and friends for support at football games.

Cedar Rapids Kennedy standout tight end had another special visitor in the Kingston Stadium stands Friday night.

North Dakota State University tight ends coach Tyler Roehl had to be impressed with how his recruit helped the Cougars maintain a red-hot start to the season.

Beyer scored on a 3-yard touchdown run with 5:22 remaining to boost Class 4A 10th-ranked Kennedy over No. 3 Cedar Rapids Washington, 28-24, in non-district play.

Beyer, who verbally committed to the national champion FCS program, was key on the winning drive. He pulled in an 11-yard gain from Nicholas Duehr over the middle to convert a crucial 4th-and-6, taking Kennedy to the 9.

'Coach Roehl was excited about coming down,” Beyer said. 'It was game.”

Beyer finished with 74 receiving yards, including an impressive 38-yard catch in the second quarter that set up a TD and 21-3 lead. He wasn't trying to put on a show for his future coach, but he said he thinks he might be impressed.

'It's definitely different to seeing someone play live rather than just on film and highlights,” Beyer said. 'I was just really focused on the game with my team and brothers. We just had to get the job done and that is what we did.”

Kennedy Coach Brian White talked with the NDSU coach at the school earlier in the day. He said he knew they were in town but that didn't influence his play calling. White relied on one of his top playmakers to lead the way.

'Nothing we did was to say, ‘Hey, NDSU, look at Shaun Beyer,'” said White, lining him up in various positions to get him the ball and counter Washington's coverages and schemes, which limited running back Tyler Dralle to just 64 rushing yards. 'We did what we could do to win a football game.”

White said Beyer is bigger and runs harder than most skill players. Beyer prefers having his number called, especially in important moments.

'I'm always up for a challenge,” Beyer said. 'I'm excited that I could make those big plays.”

Beyer moved into the backfield at quarterback. He finished the drive, taking the snap and diving through for the score.

Kennedy received two touchdowns from Dalles Jacobus, a 6-foot-2, 260-pouund lineman who moved to the backfield for goal-line sets, and four interceptions from its defense to improve to 2-0.

'They rose to the occasion,” White said. 'They got some huge turnovers.

'I'm really happy with that defense.”

The biggest turnover came in the final quarter. The Cougars trailed, 24-21 after Washington erased an 11-point halftime deficit. Matt Gardner picked off T.J. Vogel and returned it to the Washington 24.

The Cougars regained the lead after Washington (1-1) stormed back to take a 24-21 edge. The Warriors' Drew Dostal stepped in for Vogel, who suffered a cramp. He rushed for a first down before hitting Trey Leonard for the go-ahead score from 26 yards. Washington added the two-point conversion when Vogel's fumble was scooped up by lineman Aries Davis for the three-point lead.

'I told them I was proud of the way they fought back and took the lead,” Washington Coach Paul James said. 'At halftime, we thought we were in a good position, if we got a defensive stop, which ended up being an interception and return, that we could make a run at them and take the lead and that is what happened.”

Kennedy's defense made an impact in the first half as well with interceptions. Austin Coates made a diving grab of a tipped ball, giving the Cougars the ball near midfield.

Four plays later, Duehr connected on his first pass attempt, hitting a wide-open Payton McCarty, who streaked down the middle of the field for a 6-0 lead.

Jesse Price snagged a lofted pass on 4th-and-10 deep in Kennedy territory and returned it to the Washington 22. The turnover set up a 5-yard score off right tackle by Jacobus. Duehr's conversion run put Kennedy up, 14-0.

White learned during a scrimmage that Jacobus could run the ball while lined p in the backfield. He is a viable option that White kept in his 'back pocket” until the Washington game.

'It's tough to tackle that big truck back there, especially with a head of steam,” White said. 'He wasn't going to be denied.”

The Warriors drove the ball routine, reaching Kennedy territory in four of six first-half possessions. All Washington could muster was 10 points, including a 27-yard field goal from Ross Kennedy.

Special teams and defense helped lead to a third Kennedy touchdown. A punt pinned Washington on its own 1. The Cougars forced a 3-and-out, taking over at the Warriors' 40.

Duehr's 38-yard completion to Beyer allowed Jacobus to punch in another score, this time off left tackle. Jacobus said running it in was similar than leading the way.

'You have 10 guys doing a job and all you have to do is yours,” Jacobus said. 'I did my job, they did theirs and it worked.”

The unity and camaraderie that the Cougars have emphasized this season powered them when they were down. They continued to battle and were able to get big plays when Washington seemed to have momentum.

'We might be getting beaten down but you have 10 other guys out there that you know have your back,” Jacobus said. 'It's just a great feeling, because there wasn't one second where I had a doubt there.”

Washington cut the lead to 21-10 at the break with a nine-play, 72-yard drive in the final 2:31 of the second quarter. Vogel was effective, running for 25 yards and completing three passes for 32. Johnny Dobbs capped the drive with a 1-yard plunge.

Washington parlayed a turnover into points. As Kennedy drove down the field, looking to add to its 11-point lead to start the third, Washington's O'Rien Vance picked off Duehr.

The Warriors capitalized, going 78 yards. Dobbs, who finished with 35 rushing yards, scored his second touchdown with a 19-yard run, pulling Washington within 21-16.

James said the pass game improved from the opening week. Vogel threw for 170 yards and added 64 on the ground. James said he told his team that turnovers would be the difference between two good teams that were close on paper.

'The goal was to take away more than we give up,” James said. 'That didn't happen.”

l Comments: (319) 368-8679; kj.pilcher@thegazette.com