The loss dropped the Kohawks to 0-2 on the year, the first time they have started a season with two-straight losses since 1990. The Kohawks squad from 1990 bounced back for eight-straight wins to take the Midwest Conference Championship.
After forcing a three-and-out, the Golden Gusties put the first points on the scoreboard on their opening drive of the game. On third and four, the Gusties completed a 40-yard pass from Jordan Becker to Chad Arlt to keep the drive alive. Three plays later, the Gusties were faced with another third down, this time they were helped out by a pass interferance call on Coe's Tommy Breitbach (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Xavier). The ball was spoted at the Coe two yard line. After stopping the Gusties on their first two tries, Becker dove over the line for a one-yard touchdown run, putting the Gusties up 7-0.
The Coe offense stalled again on its second possession, gaining just 17 yards on five plays before punting the ball away. A 47-yard punt by freshman Ryan Langel (New Vienna, Iowa/Beckman) put the Gusties on their own 14 yard line to start the drive. Just like the Kohawks, Gustavus could only gain 17 yards on six plays before settting up the punt. Senior Mathew Walter (Nevada, Iowa/Colo Nesco) broke through the line, blocking the punt by Matt Knutson. Junior Ross Yeast (West Liberty, Iowa/West Liberty) picked up the ball and ran it 22 yards for the Kohawks first points of the game. The extra point by sophomore Elliot Rausa (Waterloo, Iowa/Columbus) tied the game at seven.
Gustavus wasted no time adding to their point total as Cody Sulalski returned the kickoff 62-yards to the Coe 24. Just three plays later, Becker hooked up with Sulalski for a 29-yard touchdown pass. The extra point was missed by John Ostertag, leaving the Gusties up 13-7. Coe tried to answer with an 11-play, 47-yard drive, but it ended when Rausa missed a 38-yard field goal attempt wide right.
The Kohawk defense forced a three-and-out on the next Gustie possession. Starting at their own 41-yard line, the Kohawks marched all the way down to the Gustie five-yard line, where their drive was stalled. On third and 1, Feller rolled out with open space before attempting to throw the ball to into the end zone. Joe Welch picked off the pass in the end zone. He tried to run it out before being forced out of bounds at the two-yard line by junior Sam Hammes (Story City, Iowa/Roland-Story).
Coe stole the ball back five plays later as senior Justin Bakke (Waukon, Iowa/Waukon) intercepted the Becker pass at the Gustavus 42 yard line. Coe was able to cut the lead to three on a six-play, 34 yard drive that ended with a 25-yard field goal by Rausa.
The Kohawks once again forced a three-and-out by the Gustie offense on their next possession. Starting on their own 25-yard line, the Kohawks drove 49-yards on 11 plays, setting up a 44-yard field goal by Rausa with :05 left in the first half. The kick tied the game at 13 heading into the break.
On the opening possession of the second half, the Kohawk defense forced another three-and-out, giving the Kohawks the ball on their own 30-yard line. An interception by Paul Stommes gave the Gusties the ball back in Coe territory for a short period of time. On the very next play, Becker was picked off by Breitbach at the Coe 30 yard line. An illegal blocking penalty pushed the Kohawks back to their own 20-yard line.
Coe was forced to put on their next possession, but another nice defensive stand by the Kohawk defense ended with a bad snap on the Gustavus punt, giving the Kohawks the ball at the Gustavus 22-yard line. Six-plays later, Rausa punched another kick through the uprights, this time from 21-yards out to give the Kohawks a 16-13 lead, their first of the season.
A 10-play, 59-yard drive by the Gusties on the following possession quickly gave them the lead back as they scored on a nine-yard touchdown pass from Becker to Elliott Herdina. The extra point made it 20-16 in favor of the Gusties. Coe started the fourth quarter by punting to the Gusties. On the first play from scrimmage, Herdina broke a 68-yard run for a touchdown, putting Gustavus up 27-16 with 14:37 to play.
Another long Kohawk drive was stalled in the red zone once again on Coe's next possession. After driving 68-yards on 14 plays, Rausa put a 30-yard field goal through the uprights, his fourth field goal of the day. The three points cut the Gustie lead to eight with 10:54 to play. After the Coe defense forced its fifth three-and-out of the day, the Kohawks regained possession at their own 24-yard line with 8:50 to play. Coe drove 35-yards on five plays before Feller tossed his third interception of the day.
Gustavus took over with 6:55 to play at their own 34-yard line. After converting three third downs on the drive, the Gusties were stopped at the Coe 20-yard line. On fourth down, Yeast sacked Becker, giving the Kohawks the ball back on their own 27-yard line with :41 remaining.
Feller completed three-straight passes, moving the ball up to the Gustavus 48-yard line. On third and two, Feller completed an 18-yard pass to Sam Hammes, putting the Kohawks at the 30-yard line with :05 left in the game. Feller's hail mary to the end zone was intercepted by Ethan Armstrong to end the game.
Coe dominated in most statistical categories, as they outgained the Gusties 450-289 in total offense. The Kohawks ran 89 plays, against the 63 by Gustavus.
Hammes finished the day with 74-yard rushing and 82-yards receiving. For the second straight game, he wasn't stopped for negative yards on the ground. Junior Robert Welborn (Indianola, Iowa/Indianola) added 81 yards on seven receptions. Junior Christopher Voss (Ames, Iowa/Ames) and sophomore Michael Rozum (Byron, Ill./Byron) each added 61 yards receiving.
The Coe linebackers led the way on the defensive side of the ball, as the three starters combined for 38 tackles, including two sacks and seven tackles for a loss. Junior Calvin Thomas (Westchester, Ill./St. Joseph's) led the way with 14 tackles. Fellow junior Tate Harrison (Nevada, Iowa/Nevada) added 13 tackles, including eight solos.
The Kohawks open Iowa Conference play next Saturday as they travel to Linn County rival Cornell. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. in Mount Vernon.
