Vincent’s heist ignites No. 2 Warriors

CEDAR RAPIDS — Some takeaways are fumble recoveries. Some are interceptions.

This was a takeaway in the literal sense. A heist.

Connor Vincent wrestled the ball away from Muscatine running back Davonte Ellis and turned it into a pivotal touchdown just before halftime, and second-ranked Cedar Rapids Washington got six touchdowns from six guys in a 42-21 triumph over Muscatine in a Class 4A District 6 football game Friday night at Kingston Stadium.

Tavian Patrick accounted for 212 of Washington's 357 rushing yards as the Warriors (5-0 overall, 1-0 district) won their 11th consecutive regular-season game.

Washington more than had its hands full for the majority of the first half. But a 3-yard touchdown run by Johnny Dobbs gave the Warriors a 14-7 lead with 1:30 left in the half.

The Warriors weren't satisfied with that.

After the kickoff, the Muskies (3-2, 0-1) ran twice, with the Warriors taking timeouts both times. Then, on third down, Vincent made the play of the game.

The Warriors stacked up Ellis at the 19, and Vincent wrestled the ball away from him and raced to the end zone.

Suddenly it was 21-7, and the lead varied between 14 and 21 points the rest of the game.

Patrick had two long runs in his big night.

The first was a 73-yard breakaway for the first touchdown of the game. The second was a 76-yarder on the last play of the third quarter.

That one, on second-and-10 from the Washington 15, flipped the field and then some. Two plays later, Reid Snitker connected with Anthony Rodriguez-Bleakley on a 10-yard TD pass that extended the margin to 35-14 with 11:10 to go.

Snitker's night was a mixed bag. On one hand, he completed just 3 of 12 passes for 42 yards and lost three fumbles. On the other hand, he did throw two TD passes (to Landen Akers and Rodriguez-Bleakley).

Muscatine was Washington's equal — at least — for most of the first half. The Muskies drew into a 7-7 draw when Matt Wieskamp scored on a 7-yard touchdown run with 4:38 left in the half.

At that point, the Muskies had seven first downs to their credit, compared to one for the Warriors.

That one first down, though, was Patrick's 73-yard TD sprint.

Caleb Smothers scored Washington's final touchdown, a 29-yarder with 2:06 to go.

Wieskamp passed for 236 yards for Muscatine, but tossed three interceptions. Washington's defense held the Muskies to 31 rushing yards on 42 attempts.

Washington hosts Ottumwa next Friday; Muscatine will host Burlington.

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