DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque football team coming off a three game skid, rallied back on Saturday to win on an 18-yard field goals with five seconds remaining to beat the Loras College Duhawks 17-14. The victory marked the 10th consecutive victory over the Duhawks in the annual Key City Clash. The Spartans never held a lead until the field goal to win the contest.
Since Dubuque played a key role in the early development of the state, Dubuque is often referred as "The Key City". The winner of the Key City Clash proudly displays the traveling trophy for the following year at their school. One side of the key is painted blue and white to represent the University of Dubuque while the other is painted in purple and gold for Loras College. The winner of the annual game gains possession of the "Key to the City". The wooden key presented to the winner each year is six feet in length. UD will retain the key for another year after the win.
The game was a defensive effort with both teams struggling to find offense in the final game of the season. Loras took advantage of the Spartans miscues and would score twice after UD turned the ball over. UD scored on two rushing drives on a six yard run by Kallion Buckner (9 plays for 70 yards in 4:31) and a 38 yard run by Lontrez Duckworth (2 plays for 40 yards in :11). The biggest play of the day came down to the wire with senior Jacob Wolf kicking an 18 yard field for the win on senior day with a mere five seconds left to play.
UD gained 305 yards of offense while the Duhawks finished with 302 yards. Quarterback Jacob Keller was 15-28 for 170 yards and Lontrez Duckworth led the ground attack with 15 rushes for 78 yards for an average of 5.2 yards a carry. Kallion Buckner rushed 18 times for 54 yards. Seniors of Elliott Pipkin grabbed six passes for 75 yards and Jordan LaBelle caught five passes for 50 yards.
The defensive was highlighted by Jordan Boatright who finished with seven tackles and an interception with a 12 yard return. Teammate Adam Steingraeber added memories to his senior day with seven tackles and an interception with a return for nine yards. Gino Romano also finished with seven tackles and forced a fumble and recovered the fumble for his senior day momento.
Conner Halla pinned the Duhawks deep after a 63 yard punt in the third quarter leaving Loras to start their drive on the five yard line. He ended the afternoon with seven punts for 249 yards with one touchback and one inside the 20 yard line. Jordan LaBelle returned two punts for 32 yards and Kallion Buckner returned three kickoffs for 34 yards. Tyler Sheffield kicked off four times for 197 yards for an average of 49.3.
The Spartans finished the season 6-4 overall and 5-3 in the American Rivers Conference. UD's four losses were to ranked opponents or opponents who received votes in weekly rankings.
KEY CITY CLASH HISTORY
2008 - Loras College won 42-6 at Rock Bowl
2009 – Loras College won 43-14 at Chalmers Field
2010 – Loras College won 14-6 at Rock Bowl
2011 – University of Dubuque won 41-16 at Chalmers Field
2012 – University of Dubuque won 45-0 at Rock Bowl
2013 - University of Dubuque won 56-0 at Chalmers Field
2014 - University of Dubuque won 34-7 at Rock Bowl
2015 - University of Dubuque won 42-7 at Chalmers Field
2016 - University of Dubuque won 60-22 at Rock Bowl
2017 - University of Dubuque 27-24 at Chalmers Field
2018 - University of Dubuque won 49-42 at Rock Bowl
2019 - University of Dubuque 37-31 at Chalmers Field
2020 - No Game COVID-19
2021 - University of Dubuque 17-14 at Chalmers Field
In the spirit of sportsmanship and mutual respect, and in a desire to give back to our local community and what it means to be faith-based institutions the The University of Dubuque and Loras College have contributed a portion of the gate receipts from the Key City Clash event to local non-profit organization. Organizations who have received donations from the game are: United Way (2008), Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Eastern Iowa (2009), the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Dubuque (2010), Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque Flood Relief (2011), Riverview Center (2012), Opening Doors Maria House-Teresa Shelter (2013), the Gabriel Project (2014), and the Dubuque Dream Center (2015), the Gabriel Project (2016), and the Red Cross Hurricane Relief (2017).