Southeast Polk 38, Dowling Catholic 24: Abu Sama scores 4 touchdowns as Rams top Maroons
It’s only Week 1. It’s important to remember that.
But goodness gracious, Southeast Polk looks good.
The Rams emphatically took down Dowling Catholic, 38-24, at Valley Stadium on Friday night, and in the process, the defending Class 5A state champs showed that they probably aren't going to miss much of a beat this fall.
Again, it’s only Week 1. Playoffs don’t start for another 63 days.
But these Rams lost their starting quarterback, second-leading rusher, top four receivers all to graduation … and still put up 38 points and 439 yards of offense, the bulk of which came from Iowa State recruit Abu Sama, who rushed for 145 yards on just 16 carries, recorded another 28 yards receiving on two catches and scored four touchdowns.
A game that started as a back-and-forth thriller — it was tied 7-7, then 14-14, then Dowling led 17-14 — became a runaway victory for Southeast Polk, who scored 21 unanswered between the second and third quarters to begin the 2022 season 1-0.
Remember, only Week 1.
But the Rams looked really, really good.
New starters shine for Southeast Polk
You probably remember the names from Southeast Polk’s state championship-winning team last year.
Jaxon Dailey at quarterback. Cole Filloon at receiver. Titus Christiansen at running back. Andrew Reed at linebacker. Xavier Nwankpa at … well, everywhere.
The new guys who stepped into those roles look ready to compete at that same championship level.
In stepped Connor Moberly at quarterback, a 6-foot-4 junior who didn’t take a single varsity snap last year. He finished 16-of-25 for 213 yards and a touchdown. He hit six different receivers and kept plays alive and avoided any glaring mistakes.
In stepped Harrison Gibson at running back, a state medal-winning wrestler who is a thumper of a rusher, 15 attempts for 96 yards, good for a 6.4-yards-per-carry average. He often plowed through Dowling defenders.
In stepped a slew of defensive playmakers — Draven Woods and Mason Van Der Brink both recording tackles for loss; the front-seven holding Dowling to just 45 rushing yards; the defensive backs breaking up passes, punctuated by Cole Rogers’ tip-drill interception in the fourth quarter that effectively iced the game.
Dowling moves the chains twice, then punts.
On Southeast Polk’s first play from scrimmage, Abu Sama takes the handoff, cuts back right, goes 72 yards to the house. Goodness.
7-0, Rams, 7:27 left in Q1. #iahsfb pic.twitter.com/ekHhOh5sPj— Cody Goodwin (@codygoodwin) August 27, 2022
Abu Sama was the star of the show
In stepped Sama, who is already well-known after leading the Rams with 931 rushing yards last season, but will clearly become the focal point of the offense this season and made a strong case that he might be the most talented running back in the state.
Again, only Week 1, but …
On Southeast Polk’s first play from scrimmage, Sama took a handoff 72 yards to the house. He finished with 18 total touches — 16 rushing attempts, 2 receptions — for 173 total yards, approximately 39 percent of the Rams’ total offense.
Five of his 18 touches went 10-plus yards, including two of his touchdown runs — the 72-yarder, plus a 24-yarder in the third quarter — as well as a 23-yard catch-and-run play in the second quarter, where Sama hauled in an outlet pass at the line of scrimmage and shed five should've-been tacklers on his way down the field.
On the last notable play from scrimmage, Southeast Polk faced a 3rd-and-15 at its own 33-yard line with less than two minutes to play. On came Sama, who gained 16, moving the chains and ending the game.
Touchdown, Southeast Polk. Connor Moberly hits Sam Goode on a 17-yard pass. Setup after Sama took this dump-off pass 23 yards. He’s been a little ridiculous tonight.
At half: SEP 21, Dowling 17. This has been quite the game so far. #iahsfb pic.twitter.com/PJZ9l9bU8T— Cody Goodwin (@codygoodwin) August 27, 2022
Dowling’s offense ran through Jaxon Smolik
Dowling put up a fight early, navigating two early deficits to lead 17-14 in the second quarter. The offense went through senior quarterback Jaxon Smolik, who finished 25-of-37 for 283 yards and two touchdowns, both to Cooper Nicholson. He hit seven different receivers and played very well.
Unfortunately for the Maroons, much of that production came in the first half. They finished with 328 total yards of offense, but had 229 by half and just 45 total on the ground. Dowling also converted just 1-of-11 third-down attempts. The defense recorded zero sacks, had only a few answers for Moberly and even less for Sama.
The first half of this game looked like it could be a preview of a mid-November clash at the UNI-Dome.
In the second, the Rams were just a step or two ahead.
One more time, it’s only Week 1.
But this was a heck of a way for the Rams to kick off the 2022 season.
Cody Goodwin covers wrestling and high school sports for the Des Moines Register. Follow him on Twitter at @codygoodwin.
Southeast Polk 38, Dowling Catholic 24
SEP 7 14 14 3 — 38
DCHS 0 17 7 0 — 24
PASSING — SEP: Moberly, 16-25, 213, 1 TD; DCHS: Smolik, 25-37, 283, 2 TD.
RUSHING — SEP: Sama, 16 carries, 145 yards, 4 TD; DCHS: Phillip, 5 carries, 26 yards, 1 TD.
RECEIVING — SEP: Robbins, 7 catches, 103 yards; DCHS: Nicholson, 5 catches 104 yards, 2 TD.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Southeast Polk 38, Dowling Catholic 24: Abu Sama scores 4 touchdowns
