Contact: Emily Zadny, Director of Athletic Communications, 563-588-7970 (written by Mike Prang, Athletic Communications Student Assistant)

 
Oct. 19, 2019 – The Loras College football team made the close trip to University of Dubuque to face their rivals for the 12th annual Key City Clash, but fell 37-31 at the hands of the Spartans despite a fourth-quarter comeback.

Dubuque struck first with a 43-yard touchdown pass to take a 6-0 lead early after the missed extra point. The Duhawks received the ball at the 25-yard line to start the drive. Five plays and 85 yards later, Noah Sigwarth bulldozed his way into the end zone for a touchdown. After the extra point, Loras led 7-6. Right before the end of the first quarter, the Spartans intercepted Sigwarth's pass and ran it into the end zone for a touchdown. Dubuque attempted a 2-point conversion and converted to take a 14-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Duhawks started the second quarter with the ball and tied the game on a 2-yard rush by Ty Bausch to tie the game 14-14. With the Spartans driving, Loras came up with a big stop in the red zone and forced a field goal which put Dubuque up 17-14. Later in the quarter, the Spartans add a touchdown, but missed another extra point and to lead 23-14. With 15 seconds left in the first half, the Duhawks were stopped and forced to bring Nicholas Farfan on to kick a 25-yard field goal to go into halftime trailing 23-17.

Loras kicked off to start the second half, and the Duhawk defense came up with a quick stop. Loras then took advantage of a pass interference penalty, and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty to put the ball inside the 20-yard line. With the ball at the 1-yard line, Jerry McDaniel rushed up the middle for a touchdown to take the lead 24-23. With 1:22 remaining in the third quarter the Spartans scored a touchdown of their own to regain the lead. The Duhawk defense broke up a pass on the 2-point conversion attempt to keep the Spartans at a 29-24 lead.

Early in the fourth quarter, the Duhawks kicked a short punt, and the Spartans returned it for a touchdown. Dubuque converted on a 2-point conversion to take a 37-24 lead. The Duhawk defense came up with another stop and blocked a punt. Zach Kemp recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown to put Loras within six. Trailing 37-31, Loras was unable to score on their last time on offense as they turned the ball over on downs inside their own 20-yard line.

The Duhawks will host the Buena Vista University Beavers in the Rock Bowl on Saturday, October 26. Kickoff is at 1:00 PM.