Tann inspires Warriors in upset victory

IOWA CITY – Cedar Rapids Washington's David Tann took the field without one of his biggest fans in the stands.

Tann recalled how much his grandfather, Jerry Tann, loved football and Warrior athletics. He enjoyed seeing his only grandson in action for Washington. Tann suffered one of the biggest losses of his life when his grandfather unexpectedly passed away at his home Sunday at the age of 67.

The Warrior senior produced a worthy tribute Friday night. Tann was inspired and provided the inspiration for his teammates as the Warriors manhandled ninth-ranked Iowa City West, 66-37, in a Mississippi Valley Conference football game Friday night at Trojan Field.

Tann powered the Warriors with 157 total yards, including 85 on the ground, scored three touchdowns, and even forced a key first-half fumble that resulted in a field goal. Washington wore a memorial stick with the initials "J.T." in honor of Jerry Tann, a football official for 42 years and basketball referee for 28.

“Football meant everything to him,” Tann said. “How many people told me that he talked about me all the time. To play like this, I'm speechless.”

Tann had messages written on his taped wrists in honor of his late grandparents, including Jerry. He seemed to be all over the field, running up the middle, hauling in passes to keep drives alive, making tackles and finding the end zone.

“He's just an inspirational kid anyway and then tonight I think we got a good feel for what this kid is all about,” Cedar Rapids Washington Coach Tony Lombardi said. “If you had a team full of 11 of those guys, you'd be awful good.”

Even though he was there physically, Tann said he felt his grandfather's presence motivating throughout the game.

"He's been with me all week," Tann said. "He's been keeping me strong. Just led me through. He'll be with me the rest of the year, rest of my life."

Tann put the Warriors on the board on their opening drive, capping a 47-yard series with a 2-yard touchdown run on 4

^th

-and-goal. The score was set up by Tann's 14-yard reception from quarterback Braedon Tovey to convert a 4

^th

-and-3 earlier in the drive.

The second quarter belonged to the Warriors. Tann added his second TD of the game, bursting through the middle of the West defense for a 33-yard TD run, which gave Washington a 21-7 lead. He followed that by hitting West quarterback Charles Rogers and forcing a fumble deep in West territory. It led to Michael Daughtery's 36-yard field goal and a 24-7 advantage.

The lead increased to 31-13 halftime lead when Ryan Cain picked off a Rogers pass on the next series and returned it more than 25 yards for a touchdown. It was the first of two Cain interceptions Friday night.

The Warriors (5-3) rallied around one of their leaders.

“A football team is like a family,” Lombardi said. “Our whole team lost a team grandpa. I call him grandpa because everybody loves to hang out at the Tann house. Jerry is a great friend to all of our kids, and a leader and inspirational guy. It was a tough thing for all these kids.”

Tann, who added a 13-yard TD reception late in the third, praised his team for the support, not only during the game, but for the entire week. He wouldn't trade them for anything.

“I couldn't ask for any better teammates and friends,” Tann said. “They've been with me all week. I couldn't ask for anything better.”

West (6-2) battled from a big hole, but it was too much to eclipse. The Trojans outscored Washington 16-7 during a stretch at the end of the first half and through the third quarter. Charles Rogers hit Jeremy Morgan for a 43-yard pass as time expired in the second quarter, and then followed an Alex Troester field goal with a 1-yard TD run and conversion run, pulling within 38-24 of the Warriors.

Rogers had another strong performance. He threw for 237 yards and two TDs - both to Morgan - and ran for 134 yards and three scores. Morgan finished with 126 receiving yards on six catches and Richard Bryant added 70 rushing yards.

The Warriors regained momentum with four rushing touchdowns in a crazy fourth quarter that saw teams combine for six touchdowns in a 59-point second half.

Washington's Will Griffin added a touchdown runs of 16 and 57 yards, giving him three for the game. He finished with 177 yards. Mitch Bredeson had 78 rushing yards and a touchdown for the Warriors. they dominated up front, rushing for a total of 386 yards.

"We controlled the line of scrimmage," Lombardi said of his offensive line including tight end Michael Peterson. "They are great friends of David and it was personal for them to that kind of a job."

The game couldn't have gone better for Tann, unless it was scripted. Tann was presented the game ball by teammate Sean Bredl and Lombardi as he shared moments with family, teammates, coaches and school administrators after the victory, bringing an end to an emotional week.

The win clinched a playoff berth for Washington.

“The (win) was all I wanted,” Tann said. “Everything else was extra and it felt great doing everything else, too.”

TEAM STATISTICS

CR Wash.

IC West

First downs

23

21

Rushes-yards

50 - 386

40 - 188

Passing yards

79

237

Comp-Att-Int

6 - 13 - 0

15 - 29 - 2

Total yards

465

425

Fumbles-lost

1 - 0

4 - 1

Punts-average

3 - 26.0

3 - 29.0

Penalties-yards

8 - 85

14 - 150

Rushing:

 CR Wash. –

Will Griffin 14-177 ,

David Tann 13-85 ,

Mitch Bredeson 14-78 ,

Flynn Heald 6-54 ,

Walter Short 3-9 ,

Braedon Tovey 2--17

 IC West –

Charles Rogers 19-134 ,

Richard Bryant 19-70 ,

Anthony Brown 1-5

Passing:

 CR Wash. –

Tovey 6-13-0-79

 IC West –

Rogers 15-28-2-237 ,

Xavier May 0-1-0-0

Receiving:

 CR Wash. –

Tann 5-72 ,

Heald 1-7

 IC West –

Jeremy Morgan 6-126 ,

Dondre Alexander 5-79 ,

Mondo Williams 2-20 ,

Jessie Peterson 2-12

CR Wash.

14

17

7

28

–

66

IC West

7

6

11

13

–

37

CRW - Tann 2 run (Michael Daughtery kick)

ICW - Rogers 16 run (Alex Troester kick)

CRW - Griffin 53 run (Daughtery kick)

CRW - Tann 33 run (Daughtery kick)

CRW - FG Daughtery 36

CRW - Ryan Cain 28 interception return (Daughtery kick)

ICW - Morgan 43 pass from Rogers (rush failed)

ICW - FG Troester 27

CRW - Tann 13 pass from Tovey (Daughtery kick)

ICW - Rogers 1 run (Rogers run)

CRW - Bredeson 9 run (Daughtery kick)

CRW - Griffin 16 run (Daughtery kick)

ICW - Morgan 14 pass from Rogers (Troester kick)

ICW - Rogers 5 run (kick failed)

CRW - Griffin 57 run (Daughtery kick)

[gallery columns="2"]

CRW - Short 5 run (Daughtery kick)