Spartans Football Unable to Capitalize in the Red Zone
Sep 22, 2018
The Spartans Dwayne Allen Jr. was held short of the endzone as time expired in the second quarter on two runs from the one yard line.
DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque football team was seeing red during their offense on Saturday after converting on just one of four chances in the red zone in a 13-35 loss on Chalmers field. Trailing by 14 points as time was expiring the Spartans ran it twice on the one yard line only to be stopped as the clock ran out to halftime. UD would score twice in the fourth quarter, first on a five yard pass from Sean Duffy to Emanuel Jenkins and Duffy to Karletty Faamatuainu from 24 yards as he tossed defenders aside to get into the endzone.
Looking at the statistics for the game, both teams finished near the same. Central led in passing yards 227 to UD's 214. On the ground Central held the lead in rushing with 245 yards as UD finished with 175 yards. Central was called for eight penalties for 57 yards. Central's hurry up offense would finish with 79 plays and UD led with 80 plays in the game.
The defensive play would force both teams to punt all day. UD's Andy Vujnovich punted six times for 241 yards (40.2 average) and once again placed three inside the 20 with his longest being for 53 yards.
Allen Jr. would lead all rushers on the afternoon and ran 25 times for 149 yards with his longest being from 37 yards. Quarterback Duffy ended the day 23-45 for 214 yards and three interceptions. Jenkins and Adam Rothas were his favorite receivers with Jenkins grabbing seven catches for 103 yards and Rothas seven catches for 55 yards.
Marshon Crowder led the defense with nine tackles including a forced fumble and 1.5 sacks. Blaze Barista, Logan Benter, and Chad Marsh, would all end the afternoon with eight tackles with Barista grabbing two interceptions and a tackle for loss.
The Spartans (2-2 overall, 1-1 in A-R-C) will travel to Loras College (2-1 overall, 1-0 in A-R-C) next week in the Key City Clash at 1 p.m. at the Rock Bowl.
