Pride come out on top of defensive slugfest against Culver-Stockton
DUBUQUE, Iowa - Looking to end a three-game homestand with their first Heart North victory, the Clarke University football team used a single touchdown in each half to edge out a 14-7 win over Culver-Stockton College on Saturday afternoon.
In a low-scoring game, Pride defense was extra stingy in the second half only allowing 96 total yards and 12:28 time of possession in the half, 42 of which were gained on the final 1:19 of the game as CU played softer coverage to keep receivers in front, in bounds to run clock, and prevent big plays.
That defense was led by safety Johel Gonzalez as the senior finished with a game-high 10 tackles, three solo and five assisted, as he finished with a sack and an extra half a tackle for a loss with two pass break-ups on the day.
The linebacking trio of Andrew Adams, Bryan Valdes, and Steele Fredricks all finished with seven or more tackles with at least a half of a tackle for a loss with Valdes only playing the second half, starting the game on a targeting suspension for the first half. Valdes also forced a big fumble in the second half that was recovered by Rondell Juba, ending a drive that had just gotten into CU territory.
Never trailing in the game, the Pride used a first quarter 17-yard touchdown pass from Kenyon Williams to Dominic Pedroza in the first quarter and a 25-yard touchdown run from Craig Elmore in the third to gain seven-point advantages at the time.
Pedroza's touchdown grab came at the end of a four-play, 76 yards drive as the senior H-back snag the pass over the middle with one hand for his first touchdown of the season. Williams also hit Jayden Wyer on a 47-yard completion down the right sideline as he was just barely tripped up to keep him from scoring on a potential 64-yard play.
Williams, who got the call to start at quarterback finished the game 10-for-21 for 158 yards with a touchdown and interception while Elmore had his fourth 100-yard game of the season with 111 yards on 26 carries to finish with a 4.3 average.
The Wildcats were able to outgain CU in the game with that late drive as the total yards finished at a 299-266 advantage for CSC but Clarke was able to keep points off the board, especially in the first half with two of the best offensive drives for Culver-Stockton ending in turnovers.
On a drive looking like it was going to originally tie the game at 7-7 in the first quarter, running back Tyler Danzey dashed towards the right pylon, only to fumble on a hit from Camden Schoor prior to breaking the plane of the goal line for the ball to roll out of the end zone for a touchback awarded to CU.
Culver-Stockton would tie the game in the second quarter on a lengthy 11-play, 75-yard drive where Danzey would get his redemption on a 14-yard touchdown run to make it 7-7 early in the period.
Later the quarter, a 48-yard drive for Culver-Stockton was stalled in Clarke territory as the Wildcats were just outside of field goal range, forced to go for it on fourth down and eight yards to get a first down.
Quarterback Brock Nellor was forced out of the pocket on back-to-back plays on third and fourth down with Ried Raisbeck making a nice open-field tackle to force third down then Keshawn Murphy pressuring Nellor to force a desperation throw incomplete to turn the ball over on downs.
The ensuing drive saw the Pride move the ball down the field but a Williams deep shot down the seam was read and picked off by Ty Leu as he returned it 53 yards to the Clarke 22, the best starting field position for any team in the entire game.
Once again, CU's defense delivered when they needed to, forcing four incompletions, the final as the halftime clock ran out to once again keep the game at 7-7.
Clarke will take this win and hit the road for their next two, starting with a trip to Lamoni, Iowa to take on Graceland University on Oct. 28 for a 1:00 p.m. CT kickoff against the Yellowjackets.