(Cedar Falls) CAM won their first state football championship in school history on Thursday with a win over Easton Valley. The Cougars erased a 15-point first half deficit with a gritty defensive performance and some timely, big plays on offense. The 42-40 win capped off a record-setting, undefeated season.
Lane Spieker ran 243 yards and passed for 232 more. The senior had a hand in five touchdowns and also intercepted a pass on defense. Cade Ticknor made huge plays on both sides of the ball, finishing with two TD’s, 82 yards rushing, and 57 yards receiving. Sam Foreman added 129 yards and a TD on four receptions. Joe Kauffman made a team high 13.5 tackles while Jack Follman posted 10 stops, one sack, and a fumble recovery.
Easton Valley forced some early turnovers and took advantage of CAM penalties. Conor Gruver passed for 384 yards and five TD’s. Three of his scoring throws came on the team’s first three possession as the RiverHawks led 21-6 with 4:05 left in the first quarter. Carson Fuegen was the main target with 20 catches for 211 yards and one TD.
CAM started to claw back when Lane Spieker hit Sam Foreman on a 65 yard TD pass 3:29 to go in the 1st. It sparked a 16-6 close to the half to get within 27-22. Easton Valley scored first in the 3rd quarter on a Conor Gruver one yard QB sneak. It capped off an 11-play, 49-yard drive which took 4:46 off the clock. CAM responded with three unanswered scores.
Lane Spieker’s 71st rushing TD of the year was a 48-yarder with 7:15 left in the 3rd to bring CAM within 33-28. Cade Ticknor made a highlight reel play on a 50 yard TD catch from Spieker gave CAM their first lead of the game late in the 3rd quarter at 36-33. They added to it on a 23 yard run from Spieker. Spieker’s 3rd rushing score of the day came on a 4th and short from 23 yards out with 3:23 to play. It extended CAM’s advantage to 42-33.
Easton Valley hit a 45 yard bomb to Aidan Gruver with 2:52 remaining to tighten the gap to 42-40. CAM recovered an onside kick, but a couple of negative plays prevented them from exhausting the remainder of the clock. The Cougar defense stood tall on Easton Valley’s final possession with a turnover on downs in the final minute to start the celebration in front of a large Cougar crowd.
They cap off the year at 13-0. Easton Valley finishes with a mark of 12-1.
Final Stats
Easton Valley
19 first downs
30 rushing yards
395 passing yards
6 penalties for 50 yards
9/17 on 3rd down
2/5 on 4th down
CAM
17 first downs
271 rushing yards
243 passing yards
9 penalties for 57 yards
4/10 on 3rd down
1/4 on 4th down
(Championship team photo courtesy of CAM AD Joe Wollum)
