LIVINGSTON — Iowa–Grant rushed for 308 yards and dominated the line of scrimmage en route to a 31–21 victory over neighboring Fennimore in the annual Milk Can rivalry game Friday at IGHS.
The win was the Panthers’ sixth straight in the rivalry series between the two schools separated by less than 16 miles. Fennimore last defeated Iowa–Grant in 2008, 51–19.
The friendly neighbors began playing for the Milk Can trophy in 1970. One half of the vintage aluminum milk can is painted red with a black Panther logo, the other half maroon, with a gold eagle sprawled across the can, with the scores of each meeting painted down the sides of the traveling trophy.
The Panthers hold a decisive 32–13 edge in the Milk Can series.
“The Milk Can links the past traditions of the two schools with the kids of today,” said I–G head coach Gary Allen of the trophy’s significance. “It is always good for the kids to appreciate the people that came before them.”
In a similar script from last year’s convincing 27–7 Iowa–Grant win, Fennimore once again could not contain Panthers’ star running back Luke Nowak.
The shifty senior ran through, around and past a host of Golden Eagle defenders Friday night to the tune of a game-high 216 yards and two TDs on a workman-like 33 carries.
Nowak scored from a yard out in the first quarter, and again on a 6-yard scamper late in the second quarter to give I–G a 24–8 halftime lead. Fellow senior Josh Haase’s 1-yard plunge early in the second quarter gave the Panthers a 16–0 lead.
Isaac Anderson tossed a 7-yard TD pass to Trent Millikin with 3:25 left in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach at 31–14.
Fennimore standout Jeff Needham returned the ensuing kickoff 75 yards to account for the final score, but it was too little, too late.
The Panthers (3–2, 1–2 SWAL) will travel to Mineral Point (3–2, 2–1) Friday.
Iowa–Grant 31, Fennimore 21
(from Friday, Sept. 19 @ Livingston)
Fennimore 0 8 6 7 — 21
Iowa–Grant 8 16 0 7 — 31
First quarter
IG: Luke Nowak 1 run (Collin Price pass from Isaac Anderson)
Second quarter
IG: Josh Haase 1 run (Nowak run)
F: Williams 22 pass from Krantz (Henkel pass from Govier)
IG: Nowak 6 run (Nowak run)
Third quarter
F: Needham 14 run (pass failed)
Fourth quarter
IG: Trent Milliken 7 pass from Anderson (Kyle Soderstrom kick)
F: Needham 75 kickoff return
Team Statistics
First downs — F n/a, IG n/a. Rushing — F 30-156, IG 58-308. Passing Yards — F 22, IG 64. Passing — F 1-8-0, IG 5-7-0. Fumbles–lost — F 0-0, IG 1-1. Penalties-yards — F 4-30, IG 5-35.
Individual Statistics
Rushing — F: Needham 20-103; IG: Luke Nowak 33-216. Passing — F: Krantz 1-8-1, 22; IG: Isaac Anderson 5-7-0, 64. Receiving — F: Williams 1-22; IG: Collin Price 3-48.
