No. 3 Iowa Western takes care of No. 15 Highland, but likely falls out of title game contention

COUNCIL BLUFFS — Iowa Western handled its end of the deal.

The third-rated Reivers posted a workmanlike 34-7 football victory over No. 15 Highland on Saturday at frigid Titan Stadium.

But in order to reach the NJCAA national championship game on Nov. 29 in Pittsburg, Kansas, Iowa Western likely needed either No. 1 East Mississippi or No. 2 Garden City to lose, and even then there were no guarantees.

East Mississippi trailed with nine minutes remaining but beat No. 4 Jones 19-14 to capture its third straight state championship.

And defending champion Garden City knocked off No. 14 Butler 22-10 to likely secure its spot opposite the Lions in the title game. Iowa Western lost at Garden City 16-13 on Sept. 22, turning it over on the Broncbusters' 3- and 6-yard lines.

So for the second straight year, it appears that three will be the Reivers' unlucky number, the highest-rated team to be kept out of the championship game.

Iowa Western (9-1) likely will be off to the Graphic Edge Bowl on Dec. 2 at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls against an opponent to be determined.

"I want the best matchup we can get,'' Iowa Western coach Scott Strohmeier said. "If that means we can get the No. 4 or No. 5 team in the country to play us, that's what we want to do.''

On Sophomore Day — the coldest day in Reiver history with an 11-degree wind chill at kickoff — the team honored all of its players who will be leaving the program at season's end. And sophomore Danny Koch, a Council Bluffs St. Albert graduate, made a lasting memory.

With the Scotties in punt formation midway through the second quarter, Michael Scott charged in and forced punter Maxim Spruell to hurry his kick. He smacked it into one of Highland's protectors, and the ball popped high into the air.

"I saw the punter kick it into their wall in the back, right into his back, and then I was able to see the ball up there,'' Koch said.

Koch caught it out of the air and returned it 2 yards for a score to give Iowa Western a 13-0 lead with 7:17 left in the second quarter. It was his first touchdown since Sept. 30, 2016, when St. Albert played Martensdale-St. Marys.

"Danny Koch, on Sophomore Day, gets a touchdown, which is awesome,'' Strohmeier said. "Just a hard-working kid who gets rewarded for his hard work. That just goes to show that you've got to keep plugging away.''

Koch, a 5-foot-11, 212-pound reserve linebacker who plays primarily on special teams, said he hopes to continue his career somewhere. He said he's trying to get the most out of whatever's left of his football-playing days.

"Twenty, 30 years from now, you can go play in an old men's league in basketball or go play a softball game here or there, but you can't go play football,'' he said. "So you've got to make sure not to take it for granted.''

T.J. Starks sent Iowa Western to the intermission with a 20-0 lead after a 17-yard touchdown run, and the home team leaned on its stingy defense in the second half.

Highland mustered just 122 total yards, including negative-3 on the ground. Willie O'Hara led the way with nine solos and three assists, and Simeon Gatling added five solos and an assist, but all of the Reivers swarmed the Highland offense with another complete performance.

Starks threw for 166 yards, including a 15-yard touchdown pass to JaVonte' Richardson, and ran for another 55.

Strohmeier said the Reivers showed some mental toughness in the win, succeeding in the absence of several key players who were out due to injury, and in the bone-chilling elements.

"There's no way you can prepare, honestly,'' he said. "The only way is to be in it. I thought our kids handled it pretty well.''

Highland (6-4)............................0  0 0 7— 7

At Iowa Western (9-1)...........7 13 7 7—34

IW: JaVonte' Richardson 15 pass from T.J. Starks (Hunter Pinegar kick)

IW: Danny Koch 2 blocked punt return (kick failed)

IW: Starks 17 run (Pinegar kick)

IW: Nyfease West 1 run (Pinegar kick)

IW: Kalen Jennings 41 fumble return (Pinegar kick)

H: Javon Henderson 3 pass from Avery McCall (Ryan Schemtob kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing: H, Justin Ruiz 11-33, Michael Thomas 4-0, Kevin Brown 8-(-11), Avery McCall 14-(-12), Ryan Schemtob 1-(-13). IW, T.J. Starks 11-55, Milton Sargbah 14-35, Nyfease West 12-26, Hunter Pinegar 1-22, Michael Zachary 2-2, Yeshuwa Hicks 4-(-1).

Passing: H, Avery McCall 14-31-1, 122 yards, 1 TD. IW, T.J. Starks 13-25-2, 166 yards, 1 TD.

Receiving: H, Justin Ruiz 3-54, Bernard Porter 3-50, Greg Payton 3-17, Naricuss Driver 1-4, Javon Henderson 1-3, Kevin Brown 2-(-2), Emanuel Stores 1-(-4). IW, Nick Singleton 5-61, Michael Zachary 3-49, JaVonte' Richardson 3-29, Marcell Barbee 1-16, Nyfease West 1-11.

Tackle leaders (solos-assists): H, Reco Hannah 8-2, Damarion Williams 5-1, Donnell Lowery 3-2. IW, Willie O'Hara 9-3, Simeon Gatling 5-1, Jerod Alton 3-0, Drew Dostal 3-0.