Spartans Score Early in Homecoming Victory
Oct 12, 2013
DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque football team scored twice in just 5:06 of Saturday's game to remain perfect in Iowa Conference play with a 2-0 record. The Spartans shocked the Luther Norse with a nine play 49 yard scoring drive in 4:21 on a 10 yard pass from Bryan Bradshaw to Chris Bagley. The ensuing kick-off bounced off the Norse return specialist and the Spartans recovered on the Norse 10 yard line. Two plays later Kyle Acker rushed from six yards and a Spartan touchdown. The Spartans never trailed in the 56-20 victory over Luther College on homecoming.
Tyler Rutenbeck opened the second quarter with a 43 yard touchdown pass from Bradshaw. Acker scored his second touchdown of the day on a one yard run with 7:43 remining in the second quarter. Bagley scored his second touchdown of the day as time was running down to halftime with :21 on an 18 yard catch from Bradshaw. UD entered halftime with a 35-13 lead. A near capacity crowd on hand in ideal weather conditions for October, the Spartans offense continued to roll in the second half out scoring the Norse 21-7.
Acker scampered from two yards out in the third quarter for his third score of the afternoon. He would finish the day with 23 carries for 113 yards. Rutenbeck not to be out done by his teammates matched their efforts with a second touchdown, this time from 44 yards out with 6:46 left in the third quarter. Chris Sanders finished the Spartans scoring with a seven yard touchdown run with 3:43 left of the final quarter. Bradshaw capped off a four touchdown afternoon by completing 11-18 pass attempts for 240 yards. The past three seasons, the Spartans have outscored the Norse 130-13.
Iowa Conference Special Teams Player of the Week, Curtis Prull was perfect in all eight extra point attempts this week. Iowa Conference Defensive Player of the Week, Blaine Snitker continued where he left off last week and finished the afternoon with 15 tackles including a half tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry. Chad Sodowski finished with 11 tackles and Vincent Whipple had 10 tackles to help the Spartans remain perfect in league play.
The Spartans offense finished with 449 total yards and an average gain per play of 7.4 yards. UD scored in all six of their red zone opportunities. UD's defense held the Norse to 55 yards passing.
UD will now face unbeaten Coe College (5-0, 2-0 in IIAC) next week Oct. 19. Kick-off slated for 1:00 p.m. in Cedar Rapids. The Kohawks enter the contest on a 56-0 beating of Loras College in Dubuque.
