(Oakland, IA) — Cole Jeppesen returned the opening kickoff for a TD and Mason Houser ran around and through the Earlham defense on their way to a 48-14 win in the first round of the Class A playoffs on Friday night.
Earlham won the toss and deferred so they kicked it to Jeppesen — big mistake — and the senior caught it at the 25 and returned it 75 yards for a TD — the extra point was missed and it was 6-0.
The Cardinals drove down the field in their wing T but had to punt and the Bulldogs took over on their own 22. That’s when Houser took over with 56 rushing yards on the drive as Riverside used a no huddle offense and the sophomore running back ended it with a 2 yard TD. After the two point conversion it was 14-0.
Earlham moved down the field with Brady Reynolds Cole Eitel running the ball — they got to the Riverside 2 yard line and facing a 4th and Goal, the Bulldogs stuffed them for only a 1 yard gain. However, Jeppesen fumbled it and the Cardinals Blain Vanderheiden found Gabe Lockner for a 29 yard TD pass to get Earlham on the board. The extra point was missed and it was 14-6.
It did not take Riverside long to answer and they largely kept it on the ground with Houser who scored on an 8 yard TD run to make it 21-6.
Rex Shanno sacked Vanderheiden on 4th down and then Peyton Amdor found Jeppesen wide open for a 52 yard TD pass and the Bulldogs led 28-6 at the half.
Earlham took the opening drive of the 2nd half down the field on all runs and Eitel scored on a 2 yard TD run to cut the lead to 28-14.
That is as close as the Cardinals got — Kingston Carrigan ran a 10 yard TD run; Houser got his third score of the game early in the 4th quarter on a 13 yard scamper and Amdor added a 2 yard TD run to ice it and the Bulldogs moved to the 2nd round.
Riverside
Mason Houser 32 carries, 249 yards, 3 TD
Cole Jeppesen 3 catches, 86 yards, 1 TD; 1 rush for 5 yards; 75 yard Kickoff return for TD
Peyton Amdor 4-5 passing for 98 yards, 1 TD; 5 carries, 32 yards, 1 TD
Earlham
Cole Eitel 25 carries, 137 yards, 1 TD
Brady Reynolds 20 carries, 65 yards
Earlham (4-5) 0-6-8-0 — 14
Riverside (7-2) 14-14-7-13 — 48
