(Des Moines) Fifth-rated Des Moines Christian used a high-powered offense and stingy defense to cruise to a 47-0 home victory over Atlantic on Friday.
The Lions wasted little time getting on the scoreboard. Jaka Newton returned the opening kickoff to the Trojans’ 43-yard line, and Des Moines Christian methodically drove down to the 1-yard line, taking four minutes off the clock. Henry Gorter then powered through the line for a 1-yard touchdown. The extra point attempt failed, giving the Lions a 6-0 lead.
The Lions recovered a Trojan fumble and moments later turned it into points. Tate Olsen connected with Alex Derkenne for a 22-Yard score, extending the Lions’ lead to 13-0 following the extra point.
Working behind the protection of a veteran offensive line, Olsen fired touchdown passes of 41 yards to Ajay Bakke and 69 yards to Andrew Clement, then added another big completion to Oliver Grice as the Lions built a 33-0 lead by halftime.
The Trojans’ defense stiffened in the second half, and the offense moved the chains; however, they couldn’t reach the end zone. Atlantic rushed for 178 yards and passed for another 94.
The Lions scored twice in the second half on a Tate Olsen-to-Jaka Newton 13-yard pass play and found the end zone with under one minute left on a 75-yard run with 43 seconds left to play.
Atlantic quarterback James Brauer went 8/21, throwing the football for 73 Yards. Fullback Jake Wailes led the Trojans in rushing with 11 carries for 78 yards, and Ethan McNeal led the receivers with four catches for 53 yards.
Atlantic hosts Storm Lake next Friday night. The Lions travel to Creston. Both games are non-district.
(The Lions’ statistics were not immediately available at the time of this writing.)
