The Reivers Remain Unbeaten After Victory Over Joliet

JOLIET, IL. — Iowa Western wasn’t looking ahead.

The No. 13 Reivers will enter their showdown with No. 7 Grand Rapids next week in Council Bluffs unbeaten after posting a 27-6 road win over Joliet Saturday at Joliet Memorial Stadium.

Zack Stoudt threw for three scores and Cody Dickson added a pair of field goals as a focused IWCC group improved to 3-0 overall and 2-0 in the Midwest Football Conference.

Now it can turn its attention to the reigning league champs, who pounded North Dakota State College of Science 65-7 Saturday for its third win in as many games.

“We shouldn’t have to say too much this week,” said Iowa Western coach Scott Strohmeier, who beat the Wolves for the first time in six career tries. “Obviously, I’m proud. We fought through some things today. We need to shore up some things, but we’ve been waiting for this one for a year.”

Although it was tested a bit for the first time this season, IWCC never trailed Saturday. Stoudt’s 14-yard scoring pass to Marquise Hill early in the second quarter gave the Reivers a 10-0 lead. After Joliet cut the margin to four, the duo connected again from 20 yards out to make it an 11-point game at the half. Stoudt finished the game with 177 yards through the air.

Joliet threatened in the third, sparked by a pair of fourth-down rushes by backup quarterback Darren Jones on a nine-minute drive. The freshman, who rushed for 108 yards in the second half, took the Wolves to the IWCC 9 before being intercepted by Andrew Brown in the end zone.
“Our guys were frustrated, but they didn’t let the last play affect them,” Strohmeier said. “To come up with a play when you’re put that position, what an unbelievable play by Andrew. When they ate up nine minutes and didn’t come away with anything, that kind of took the air out of them.”

The Reivers went the length of the field on the ensuing drive to move in front 20-6 on a 19-yard field goal by Dickson. Stoudt’s 13-yard TD pass to Matt Waters with 8:33 to play capped the scoring.

IWCC, which got 103 rushing yards from Jalen Singleton, finished with 318 total yards in the game. The Reivers have outscored their opponents 127-12 this season. The touchdown by Joliet’s Jawyne Thomas was the first allowed by Iowa Western’s No. 1 defense.

Linebacker Sam Maresh, a transfer from the University of Minnesota, led the Reivers with 11 total tackles Saturday.

Scoring Summary:

Iowa Western (3-0, 2-0) 3 14 0 10 – 27
Joliet (1-2, 0-2) 0 6 0 0 – 6

IWCC: Cody Dickson 26 FG
IWCC: Marquise Hill 14 pass from Zack Stoudt (Dickson kick)
JJC: Jawyne Thomas 37 pass from Alonzo Bellamy (kick blocked)
IWCC: Hill 20 pass from Stoudt (Dickson kick)
IWCC: Dickson 19 FG
IWCC: Matt Waters 13 pass from Stoudt (Dickson kick)

Individual Stats:

Passing:
Zach Stoudt 15-25-0 177

Rushing:
Jalen Singleton 20-103, Jaimie Goldsmith 6-18, Wes Smith 2-11, Stoudt 4-9

Receiving:
Marquise Hill 4-49, Smith 4-39, Willie Baughman 2-45, Matt Waters 2-31, Demetrius Tillman 1-12, Singleton 1-1