CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The Loras College football team opened American Rivers Conference play with a 35-14 loss to Coe College Saturday afternoon at Clark Field.
Coe took control early, scoring 21 points in the opening quarter before adding another touchdown in the opening seconds of the second to take a 28-0 advantage into halftime.
Loras found some offensive momentum after the break, getting on the board with 5:25 remaining in the third quarter when Joey Helminiak connected with Isaac Oster for a 59-yard touchdown. The Duhawks added another score in the fourth as Helminiak found Brock Couch for an 11-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit to 28-14.
The Kohawks answered late in the fourth with a 63-yard touchdown run from Quincy Drummer to close out the scoring.
Loras finished with 385 yards of total offense, including 282 through the air, while controlling possession for 31:09. The Duhawks converted 9-of-19 third-down opportunities but were hurt by three interceptions and came away with points on just one of four trips to the red zone.
Helminiak completed 24-of-43 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns. Oster led the receiving corps with 75 yards and a touchdown on four catches, while Couch finished with 56 yards and a score. Jeremy Pittman led the ground game with 93 yards on 21 carries.
Defensively, Will Speltz led Loras with 11 tackles, while Henry Ivers added 10. Mason Boothe recorded 1.5 tackles for loss and a half-sack, while Jonah Clark added a sack.
Up Next: The Duhawks will host Simpson College next Saturday to celebrate Homecoming. Kickof from the Rock Bowl is scheduled for 1 p.m.
