RICHLAND CENTER — Iowa–Grant is off to a strong start after dominating host Richland Center 46–28 in a non-conference season-opener Friday night.
Junior Brady Peat rushed for 166 yards and a pair of first half touchdowns as the Panthers jumped out to a 33–6 halftime lead.
Senior Travis Arndt opened the scoring with a 27-yard run early in the first quarter, then added a 3-yard TD run late in the second quarter to make it 33–6. Arndt finished with 115 yards and two touchdowns for the winners.
Senior Caleb Hill, who passed for 1,049 yards and 11 TDs as a junior, picked up right where he left off a year ago, completing 8 of 11 passes for 151 yards and a pair of TDs. He tossed a 7-yard TD pass midway through the first quarter for I–G’s second score, then connected with senior Charles Christianson for a 47-yard TD strike late in the first quarter to make it 20–0. Christianson finished with four catches for 85 yards.
“Our O-line was able to control the line of scrimmage and our backs and receivers took advantage,” said I–G head coach Gary Allen. “Brady Peat is our starting running back now, but our offensive success will rely on a balanced attack. Caleb made several good decisions and executed the offense well.”
Richland Center only scored twice against I–G’s first-string defense, on a 2-yard run by Caleb Coleman and a 51-yard run late in the third quarter. The Hornets (0–1) added an 85-yard kickoff return and a late TD pass against the I–G reserves.
“With the exception of a few missed tackles our defense played alright,” said Allen. “It’s early but our kids have shown a willingness to work hard and play together. Our backups will need to step up their game as the year progresses.”
Iowa–Grant will face a stiffer test this Friday when it hosts reigning Six Rivers champion Pecatonica/Argyle (1–0). The Allen’s club will look to exact a measure of revenge in Friday’s home opener after the Vikings defeated I–G in week two of the 2015 regular season 34–12 and ended the Panthers’ postseason a year ago in the second round of the WIAA Division 6 playoffs 20–9. Pec/Argyle is coming off a 36–6 win over Potosi on Saturday.
Iowa–Grant 46, Richland Center 28
(from Friday, Aug. 19 @ Richland Center)
Iowa–Grant 20 13 6 6 — 46
Richland Center 0 6 6 16 — 28
First quarter
IG: Travis Arndt 27 run (Brady Peat kick)
IG: Clayton Kite 5 pass from Caleb Hill (kick failed)
IG: Charles Christianson 47 pass from Hill (Peat kick)
Second quarter
RC: Caleb Coleman 2 run (run failed)
IG: Brady Peat 45 run (kick failed)
IG: Arndt 3 run (Peat kick)
Third quarter
IG: Peat 13 run (kick failed)
RC: Keon Miller 51 run (run failed)
Fourth quarter
IG: Kite 6 run (Peat kick)
RC: Miller 85 kickoff return (Quin Tydrich pass from Noah Johnson)
RC: Tydrich 41 pass from Johnson (Tydrich pass from Johnson)
Team Statistics
First downs — IG n/a, RC n/a. Rushing — IG 40-320, RC n/a-46. Passing Yards — IG 151, RC n/a. Passing — IG 8-11-0, RC n/a. Fumbles–lost — IG 1-1, RC n/a. Penalties-yards — IG 7-35, RC 1-15.
Individual Statistics
Rushing — IG: Brady Peat 16-166, Travis Arndt 15-115; RC: Keon Miller 4-53. Passing — IG: Caleb Hill 8-11-0, 151; RC: Noah Johnson n/a. Receiving — IG: Charles Christianson 4-85; RC: Quin Tydrich n/a.
