Graceland's Explosive Offense and Special Teams Propels It to Victory

Dubuque, Iowa – Graceland football extended its winning streak to three games with a commanding 49-27 victory over Clarke University in a Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) matchup. The Yellowjackets improved to 5-2 on the season and remain undefeated in conference play at 3-0.

The game's momentum shifted late in the second quarter when Clayton Linville blocked a punt and returned it 20 yards for a touchdown just before halftime, giving Graceland a two-score lead. Head Coach Pat Ross highlighted this play as the pivotal moment in the game. "The punt block before halftime was the key to the game. It gave us momentum and a two-score lead," Ross said.

Clarke opened the scoring in the first quarter with a 28-yard field goal from Garrett Atkinso, capping an 11-play, 64-yard drive. However, Graceland quickly responded with a three-play, 85-yard drive that ended with a 26-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Cade Ross to wide receiver Gerald Monroe, giving the Yellowjackets a 7-3 lead.

Clarke added another field goal early in the second quarter to cut the lead to 7-6. Graceland's offense then took control, orchestrating a 12-play, 58-yard drive that culminated in a 5-yard touchdown pass from Ross to Monroe, his second score of the game. Just before halftime, Linville blocked punt extended the lead to 21-6.

Coach Ross acknowledged Clarke's competitiveness, stating, "Clarke came out with a lot of fight, just like we expected. We had to work for everything we got, and their coaches did a nice job with their game plans."

Graceland came out of halftime with a renewed sense of urgency, knowing it needed to maintain its momentum. "Coming out of halftime we had momentum following the blocked punt.  It was the key play in the game for us,  Coach Ross remarked. That urgency was evident, as Graceland scored quickly on a 66-yard touchdown pass from Ross to Monroe, his third of the day.

The Yellowjackets continued to pour on the points in the third quarter with a 34-yard touchdown pass to Isiah Rivers-Rodriguez and a 75-yard run by Jamon McGlory to push the lead to 42-19.

Clarke fought back with a 2-yard rushing touchdown and a 75-yard interception return for a touchdown by Gabe Guyton, but Graceland's offense remained potent. A 68-yard touchdown pass from Ross to Deajaun Mcdougle in the fourth quarter sealed the victory for the Yellowjackets.

Coach Ross was pleased with his team's effort but noted areas for improvement. "There are a lot of things we need to improve on, but the good thing is most of our problems are correctable," Ross said. "I'm looking forward to this week's practice."

Key Performances

• Quarterback Cade Ross had an impressive outing, completing 17 of 32 passes for 328 yards and five touchdowns.
• Wide receiver Gerald Monroe was the standout offensive player, recording eight catches for 164 yards and three touchdowns.
• Running back Jamon McGlory had a dominant performance on the ground, rushing for 147 yards on 17 carries, including a 75-yard touchdown.

On the defensive side, Graceland's Antonio Brunson and Jacob Morales each recorded nine tackles, while Charles Phoenix contributed a sack and multiple tackles for loss. Graceland's defense held Clarke to 318 total yards, while the Yellowjackets racked up 575 yards of total offense.

Graceland will travel to Canton, Missouri, next Saturday to face Culver-Stockton College in another important HAAC matchup. Kickoff is set for 12:30 PM.

For more information on the Graceland football team and all Yellowjacket athletics, visit GUjackets.com.