DUBUQUE, Iowa - The Key City Clash once again lived up to its hype. The last five contests have been decided by less than one score, the 2022 edition was no different. Both teams ended in regulation all knotted at 20-20. UD received the ball in overtime and scored on a fade in the left side to Wade Sheets, to take the overtime advantage 27-20. The Duhawks responded with a first down and would end the game on four straight passes to the left corner of the end zone, all broken up by the Spartans defenders.
2022 Key City Clash Photo Gallery
In pregame warmup, the sun was trying to peek out with no wind at the Rock Bowl. Mother Nature quickly changed and rain and the wind roared prior to kickoff and never relented. UD scored first on a 30 yard run by Tyler Olejniczak to jump out to an early 7-0 lead at 4:35 of the first quarter. Loras would respond with :22 left on a 4-yard run to tie the game 7-7. UD would re-take the lead on a 32 yard pass to Wade Sheets from quarterback Ben Gultig at 6:18 of the second quarter 14-7. Loras tied the game on a one yard push up the middle 14-14. Both teams would remain scoreless in the third quarter setting up a final quarter battle.
Loras grabbed the 17-14 lead early in the fourth with a 27 yard field goal at 14:07. The Duhawks added a second field goal advantage at 8:05, this time from 25 yards out to extend their lead 20-14. The Spartans were moving the ball down the field and a penalty pushed them back to a fourth and 27 yards to go. Ben Gultig dropped back and found Wade Sheets in the right side in a battle for the ball at the end zone and UD was awarded the touchdown in the scrum. The wet conditions provided a challenge in the kicking game and UD would fail in their extra point attempt with the game tied once again, this time at 20-20. A drive by each team in the final minute proved fruitless and the game would be extended into overtime.
UD received the ball first and would gain 24 yards on a Tyler Olejniczak run to the left side to the Duhawks one yard line. Two runs left UD short, before a Ben Gultig pass to his favorite receiver Wade Sheets for the touchdown in the left side of the end zone. UD's Liam Smith's extra point attempt was good for a Spartans 27-20 lead. A Spartans sack pushed the Duhawks back to a third and 15 yards to go, before a holding penalty allowed the hosts another chance and a new series of downs. The Duhawks used four straight pass plays to the left side of the end zone to their favorite target only to be stopped by Brock Carter three times and Tyler Geiman to end the game with UD earning their 11th consecutive Key City Clash victory and will keep the "Key" for another year.
KEY CITY CLASH HISTORY
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
2015 - University of Dubuque won 42-7 at Chalmers Field
2016 - University of Dubuque won 60-22 at Rock Bowl
2017 - University of Dubuque 27-24 at Chalmers Field
2018 - University of Dubuque won 49-42 at Rock Bowl
2019 - University of Dubuque 37-31 at Chalmers Field
2020 - No Game COVID-19
2021 - University of Dubuque 17-14 at Chalmers Field
2022 - University of Dubuque 27-20 in OT at Rock Bowl
In the spirit of sportsmanship and mutual respect, and in a desire to give back to our local community and what it means to be faith-based institutions the The University of Dubuque and Loras College have contributed a portion of the gate receipts from the Key City Clash event to local non-profit organization. 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), and the Dubuque Dream Center (2015), the Gabriel Project (2016), and the Red Cross Hurricane Relief (2017).
The Spartans (6-3 overall, 6-1 in American Rivers Conference) will host the Central College Dutch (6-3, 4-3 in A-R-C) on Chalmers Field next week on Senior Day. The Dutch beat the Luther College Norse on Saturday 61-13. Kickoff slated for a 1:00 p.m. start.