Grinnell grounds up Washington, 35-21

By Jim Ecker

CEDAR RAPIDS – The Grinnell Tigers did not complete a single pass against the Washington Warriors Thursday night.

They didn’t have to.

Josh Ringler rushed for 247 yards and his partner Beni Kiphanzu exploded for 243 as the Tigers topped Washington, 35-21, on homecoming at Kingston Stadium.

Grinnell’s dynamic duo ran for five touchdowns – three by Ringler, two by Kiphanzu – as the Tigers controlled the game with the pair rushing for an astonishing 490 yards.

“I knew they were going to run the ball, just like they knew we were going to run the ball,” remarked Washington Coach Eric Addy. “They did it more effectively than we did.”

Uweza Kalolero, who began the night ranked No.5 among runners in Class 4A, worked hard for 151 yards and one touchdown for the Warriors.

Washington played without starting quarterback William Stastny, who broke his collarbone in a victory at Clinton last week and is lost for the season. Bonfils Iranzi stepped in for Stastny and produced 137 yards, with 80 on the ground and 57 through the air with several drops.

“I’m proud of him,” said Addy. “He’s a senior on our team. He’s a leader on our team, he’s a captain.”

Iranzi was tackled hard and retired late in the game in pain.

“Everybody wants to play quarterback until it comes time to play quarterback and bad guys are coming after you,” said Addy.

Andrew Butikofer intercepted a pass and ran 30 yards for a touchdown for Washington as the Warriors tied the score, 7-7, with 1:40 left in the first half.

Kiphanzu broke loose for a 74-yard touchdown on Grinnell’s first play after the Warriors scored and the Tigers led 14-7 at halftime.

Ringler scored on a 28-yard jaunt in the third quarter as Grinnell grabbed a 21-7 advantage. Iranzi pulled Washington within a single score with a 2-yard keeper as the Warriors pulled within 21-14 on the final play of the third quarter.

Grinnell put the game away in the final stanza on a 38-yard touchdown by Kiphanzu and a 38-yard score by Ringler, making it 35-14 with 3:21 remaining.

Kalolero scored for Washington on a 5-yard run with 10 seconds left in the game, capping an 80-yard drive.

Grinnell attempted only three passes all night, all in the first half. Two of them were intercepted.

Washington is 2-2 for the season. Grinnell raised its record to 3-1.

Grinnell 7 7 7 14 — 35
Washington 0 7 7 7 — 21

G – Ringler 34 run (Hoopes kick)
W – Butikofer 30 interception return (Barton kick)
G – Kiphanzu 74 run (Hoopes kick)
G – Ringler 12 run (Hoopes kick)
W – Iranzi 2 run (Barton kick)
G – Kiphanzu 38 run (Hoopes kick)
G – Ringler 38 run (Hoopes kick)
W – Kalolero 5 run (Barton kick)