American Rivers

Football wins 23rd consecutive over Cornell behind near record-setting offensive performance

MOUNT VERNON, Iowa – The Coe College football team opened the 2023 season on Saturday afternoon with a dominant 56-6 victory over Cornell College, extending its current win streak over the Rams to 23 games. The Kohawks offense was explosive from the opening whistle, totaling 725 yards from scrimmage, the third-highest total in school history and the highest total in almost 30 years. Dominic Shepardson spearheaded the big-play offense, tying the school record with four receiving touchdowns including a 48-yard score on Coe's first offensive play of the game. The Kohawks offense added two more touchdowns in the opening half on a 67-yard strike from Carter Maske to Shepardson before Jacob Brecht delivered a 71-yard house call early in the second quarter. The offense turned things on in the second half, adding 28 points highlighted by an 87-yard touchdown pass from Caden Mata to Devon Kollasch. The Kohawk defense was nearly perfect throughout the first contest of the year, surrendering just 115 total yards and one touchdown on a punt return late in the third quarter.