STORM LAKE, Iowa - Coe gave up 14 points and 142 yards of offense in the first quarter, but shutout Buena Vista in the remaining three quarters in a 30-14 win in Coe's final road regular season game. The Kohawks improved to 5-1 in the Iowa Conference with the win.
After gaining three-straight first downs on the first three offensive plays of the game, the Kohawks fumbled the ball at the 50 yard line on their first possession of the game. Buena Vista capitalized, taking the ball 50 yards on seven plays, capped by a 10-yard touchdown run by John Hill with 10:11 to play in the opening quarter.
Once again, Coe marched down the field, but failed to convert a fourth-and-17 from the Beaver 23 yard line. After back-to-back gains of eight yards, Buena Vista ran a wide receiver reverse pass with Larry Marcel completing a 61-yard pass to Logan Lehrkamp for a touchdown, giving the Beavers a 14-0 lead with 5:59 to play in the first quarter.
Coe started its third drive on its own 20 yard line, moving all the way inside the Beaver red zone before fumbling for the second time in the first quarter. The Beavers were forced to punt following the turnover and the Kohawk offense took over from there. On its first possession of the second quarter, Coe went 64 yards on 12 plays with Boyle plunging in from a yard out to put the Kohawks on the scoreboard with 10:37 left in the half.
The Kohawk defense forced a three-and-out, with Buena Vista losing six yards on the next possession. Coe wasted no time scoring this time, as they went 28 yards on six plays for the score. On second and goal, senior Brad Boyle (New Sharon, Iowa/North Mahaska) found Mitch Montgomery (Lisbon, Iowa/Lisbon) for his first career touchdown.
Another three-and-out for the Kohawk defense gave the offense the ball back at their own 41 yard line. Coe converted two third downs on the drive, with juniorBrendan Leiran (Waukon, Iowa/Waukon) rushing for 10 yards on the first third down and Boyle scrambling for 22 yards on a third-and-seven to the Beaver one-yard line. This time it was Leiran getting the touchdown, as Coe took its first lead of the game at 21-14 with 2:08 to play in the first half.
After giving up 142 yards in the first quarter, the Kohawk defense held the Beavers to just 22 yards in the second quarter, while the offense tallied 137 yards in the frame.
On just the third play of the second half, senior Jacob Breitbach (Panora, Iowa/Panorama) intercepted Bo Darrow at the Kohawk 45 yard line. It was Breitbach's fourth career interception and second against the Beavers in his career. Coe was unable to capitalize as the offense went three-and-out, but Coe's defense earned another stop to give the ball back to the Kohawk offense with 10:44 to play in the third quarter.
Coe would once again step into the Beaver red zone, but settled for three points from sophomore Wes Anderson (Newhall, Iowa/Benton Community) as he connected on a career-long 36-yard field goal with 7:31 left in the third quarter.
The Kohawk defense would once again force a three-and-out from the Beavers, with the offense taking over at their own 49 yard line. Facing third-and-17, Boyle found junior Jared Kuehner (Center Point, Iowa/Center Point-Urbana) for a 27-yard gain to the Beaver 20 yard line. On third-and-goal from the 20, Boyle found Kuehner once again for a score, giving Coe a 30-14 lead with :18 left in the third quarter. Coe tallied over 100 yards of offense again in the third quarter, while holding the Beavers to eight yards, including negative seven rushing.
Neither team could get anything going in the fourth quarter, as Buena Vista punted twice and had their third drive end on an interception by Nathan Steinbronn (Maynard, Iowa/West Central). It was the second interception of Steinbronn's career, with the first coming against the Beavers last season. Following the last Beaver possession of the game, Coe took over with 4:53 to play and ran the clock out.
Coe tallied 459 yards of offense (183 rushing and 276 passing) while holding the Beavers to 179 yards (55 rushing and 124 passing). The Kohawks converted 8-of-16 third down chances, while the Beavers were just 4-of-14 on third downs.
Leiran led the rushing attack with a game-high 110 yards on a career-high 28 carries. He became the ninth player in school history to go over 2,000 yards in his career. Boyle rushed nine times for 43 yards and connected on 25-of-38 passes for 276 yards. It was the seventh time in his career that he completed 25 or more passes. With his 25 completions, he became the first quarterback in school history to complete 138 or more passes in three seasons.
Senior Nick Ratchford (Waterloo, Iowa/Columbus) had a game-high seven receptions for 46 yards. He became the 12th player in school history to have 1,400 receiving yards. Leiran added 47 receiving yards on a career-high six receptions. SeniorJoe Langenberg (Baxter, Iowa/Baxter) added 46 yards receiving on five receptions while Kuehner finished with 68 yards on three receptions. SophomoreKeaton Juergens (Elkader, Iowa/Central Elkader) had a career-high 65 receiving yards on three receptions.
Junior Frank Weymiller (New Albin, Iowa/Waukon) led the Kohawks with seven tackles on defense. He also had two sacks for 14 yards loss. Steinbronn finished with six tackles and a career high one and a half sacks. He also forced a fumble. Seniors Ben Carr (Clinton, Iowa/Prince of Peace) and Jacob Lower (Volga, Iowa/Central Elkader) added five tackles apiece, with two of Carr's going for a loss.
The Kohawks will return home next week for just the third time this season. Coe will host the University of Dubuque, the only other team in the Iowa Conference with one loss. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Clark Field.