IOWA FALLS, Iowa - The Independence Football team picked up their first win of the season in dominant fashion, as they cruised past Ellsworth 51-14 on Saturday.
Both teams rolled into Saturday’s game with 60 minutes of football already under their belt, as Ellsworth won in blowout fashion over Central Lakes College in Week 0, while Independence fell short against nationally ranked Trinity Valley.
Looking to bounce back in a big way, Indy struggled to get anything going on their first offensive drive of the day, going three and out.
Outside of that first empty drive, the rest of the first half was all Pirates. The scoring began when Keegan Anderson, making his first start at QB of the season, found Kedan Johnson for a 23 yard strike.
Indy’s defense kept the momentum on the side of the Pirates, holding the Panthers to a three and out, and even getting in on the scoring themselves when Ellsworth had an errant snap on a punt go out of the back of the end zone, resulting in a safety.
From there the flood gates were open, as on the next drive Anderson hooked up with Ejani Shakir for the first of their two 50+ yard touchdowns, his second coming with just seconds left in the first half. Shakir would end the day with three catches for 130 yards, and the pair of scores.
Early in the second quarter, Jimarion Guyton found the endzone for the first time this year to push the Pirate lead to 23-0.
On the next drive Anderson found one of his Tight Ends, James Resar, for a 20 yard touchdown strike. Anderson, whose day was done at halftime, finished his first collegiate start 17 of 27 for 298 yards and four touchdowns.
Up 37-0 at halftime, Ellsworth did come out and connect on a big play early in the half to spoil the shutout for the Pirates on a 64 yard touchdown.
Later in the third quarter, freshman quarterback Nathan Neal cashed in for his first collegiate touchdown pass, as he found Kendrick Hanks Jr. for a 33 yard touchdown to push the Pirate lead back to 37.
In the final minutes of the game Ivan Johnson punched it in from three yards out leading to the 51-14 final.
Defensively it was a complete team effort, led by Josiah Raven who had a sack and a forced fumble. Kenneth Ford Jr. and Nasir Hudson both forced fumbles as well, while the Pirates recovered two of the three, thanks to Roman Kupu and Thaddius Parson. Kamar Lhomme had his second interception in as many games in the win as well.
The win moves Independence to 1-1 on the season, as they now gear up for a Saturday night road affair under the lights against Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, kickoff set for 7:00 pm.