No. 4 Kennedy overpowers Jefferson, 35-7

CEDAR RAPIDS – If there was a message to be sent, Cedar Rapids Kennedy wanted to be the one delivering it.

It's a safe bet this will be received loud and clear. The Cougars are physical and they have the ability to pound and ground opponents.

Fourth-ranked Kennedy amassed more than 400 rushing yards, rolling over Cedar Rapids Jefferson, 35-7, in the Class 4A District 5 opener Friday night at Kingston Stadium.

'We wanted this to be a statement game for us, too,” Kennedy Coach Brian White said. 'We wanted to prove to people that we're for real and that we can play a little bit for football. We have a long ways to go, no doubt about that. We like being able to line up and run the ball.”

The Cougars (5-0) feasted on a steady diet of rushes thanks to a strong offensive line and running back Tyler Dralle, who has 149 carries through the first five games.

Dralle ran for 207 yards on 34 carries, increasing his total to 766 yards on the ground this season.

Even though White and assistant Tyrone Schweiger monitor carries, they are confident giving him the ball as much as possible.

'I want the ball 40 times a game,” Dralle said. 'So, if that's what it takes to win I'm ready for it.”

He helped the Cougars run over the J-Hawks early, carrying the ball six times of a 12-play, 91-yard drive that quarterback Nick Duehr capped the drive with a 5-yard TD run, giving Kennedy a 7-0 lead.

Dralle's only score TD gave Kennedy a 21-0 halftime edge. He bowled in for a 2-yd TD run set up by his own 17-yard run and an impressive 31-yard pass from Duehr to a leaping Beyer to the J-Hawks' 19.

'It was great to be able to do it,” Dralle said. 'It felt good running the ball, knowing I have the best five linemen up front.”

The bizarre and unorthodox led to the Cougars' next score. Facing a 4th-and-2 from its own 45, Kennedy resorted to a fake punt. Beyer pulled down the snap and ran up the middle. He skirted his way through the line of scrimmage and then collided with the referee, knocking him to the ground. Beyer kept his wits, broke to his left and raced his way for a 55-yard TD.

'The kid is hard to tackle in the open field,” White said. 'He's so long and powerful with his strides. He's tough to bring down.”

Dalles Jacobus normally leads the way as a lineman, but the 6-foot-2, 260-pounder rushed for a pair of 6-yard TDs for Kennedy in the second half.

The Cougars defense made its contributions, stifling Jefferson early. They held Jefferson (3-2, 0-1) to three plays and punts its first four series and didn't allow a score until Valentino Green's 71-yard touchdown jaunt in the third.

'We made a couple little adjustments,” White said. 'The defense is flying around. I think you see our team speed on the defensive side of the ball. We get to the ball and that is a nice problem to have.”

Green finished with 120 yards of offense and more than 20 tackles.

'He never quits,” Webb said. 'He never comes off the field.

'He's a great player for us. Without a doubt, he is one of our leaders. We are going to rely on him.”

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