DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque and Loras College continued their intense rivalry on the football field on Saturday at the annual Key City Clash. Equally exciting is the fact that the two schools will once again donate to a local non-profit organization. The 2014 donation marks the seventh consecutive year the two schools have given back to the community. The Gabriel Project® is the recipient of this year's donation for the Spartans and the Duhawks.
Gabriel Project® is a network of church communities throughout the United States committed to offering immediate and practical help to any woman faced with a crisis pregnancy. There is no charge for their services and they do not discriminate because of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, or religious affiliation of their clients. The Gabriel Project® helps women, who are pregnant and in need. We offer help such as providing:
- mother and baby itemssocial services contact information
- referrals for pre-natal and delivery care.
Their mission is to help all pregnant women who need help, regardless of religious affiliation or lack thereof. The outreach may include prayer, help with material needs, advice and guidance.
The two institutions believe this tradition is one way both schools can give back to the community and model the very best of what it means to be faith-based institutions. Organizations who have received donations from the game are: United Way (2008), Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Eastern Iowa (2009), the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Dubuque (2010), Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque Flood Relief (2011), Riverview Center (2012), Opening Doors Maria House-Teresa Shelter (2013), the Gabriel Project (2014).
Since Dubuque played a key role in the early development of the state, Dubuque is often referred as "The Key City". The winner of the Key City Clash will proudly display the traveling trophy for the following year at their school. One side of the key is painted blue and white to represent the University of Dubuque while the other is painted in purple and gold for Loras College. The winner of the annual game gains possession of the "Key to the City". The wooden key presented to the winner each year is six feet in length. The Spartans have won the last four meetings, while the Duhawks won the first three meetings.
2008 - Loras College won 42-6 at Rock Bowl
2009 – Loras College won 43-14 at Chalmers Field
2010 – Loras College won 14-6 at Rock Bowl
2011 – University of Dubuque won 41-16 at Chalmers Field
2012 – University of Dubuque won 45-0 at Rock Bowl
2013 - University of Dubuque won 56-0 at Chalmers Field
2014 - University of Dubuque won 34-7 at Rock Bowl
Saturday the Spartans scored first and continued to score in every quarter en route to the 34-7 dominant victory on the road. UD compiled nearly 600 yards of offense on the near perfect conditions at the Rock Bowl. Chris Bagley caught an eight yard pass from Zach Fry for the first score of the day to give the Spartans a 7-0 lead after a Curtis Prull extra point at 8;51 of the first quarter. Devin Best caught a 25 yard pass from Fry to start the second quarter (14:53) to stretch the lead to 14-0. Loras rallied back to cut the lead to 7-14 after the Duhawks moved the ball through the air and scored on a one yard run. The scored remained 7-14 until Prull kicked a 22 yard field goal with 12:20 remaining in the third quarter. Alec Arvanitakis crashed his way through the defense for a two yard score just five minutes later to extend UD's lead to 17-7. DaiVon Vance-Jenkins capped off a seven play drive with a two yard touchdown run with 13:25 of the final quarter as Prull would again add another field goal to the score after a successful 31 yard attempt with 10:50 remaining in the game with UD leading 34-7. Defense for both teams stepped up in the final 10 minutes to hold each other out of the endzone.
UD retains the Key for the Key City Clash and now holds the edge in victories 4-3 over the Duhawks. UD rushed for 171 yards with Arvanitakis leading with 23 carries for 72 yards and teammate Vance-Jenkins, who carried the ball five times for 68 yards. Fry completed 30-43 passes for 356 yards through the air with his longest being a 54 yard connection with Tyler Rutenbeck.
The Spartans defense caused the Duhawks all sorts of trouble on the field. UD intercepted the Duhawks quarterback three times and they forced the offense into committing five fumbles of which they lost two. Blaine Snitker recovered one fumble and rumbled down the field for 32 yards and Vinny Whipple intercepted the Duhawks and returned it nearly to the endzone for a 33 yard return. Trevor Stauner led with 10 tackles, Darren Myles ended with eight. UD's defense would complete the day with seven tackles for losses and five sacks. UD's offensive line allowed just one Spartan sack.
UD (3-5 overall, 2-3 in IIAC) will host the Coe College Kohawks (4-4 overall and 3-2 in IIAC) on Senior Day next week on Chalmers Field with kick-of slated for 1:00 p.m. The Kohawks won 35-14 over the Luther College Norse in Decorah. The Kohawks hold a slim edge 3-2 edge in victories over Head Coach Stan Zweifel. UD won last year's match-up 38-14.