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Iowa Central seeks first win

INDEPENDENCE, Kan. – For the second straight week, and fourth time this season, the Iowa Central football team hits the road.

The Tritons try to get in the win column for the first time this year as they take on Independence here this afternoon.

Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

It’s been a tough road for Iowa Central (0-4 overall) so far on the season. They opened at DuPage (20-13) and Dodge City (45-21) before returning home to take on rival Ellsworth (44-25). Last week, the Tritons were topped at Highland (42-2), another Kansas program.

Paul Campbell has thrown for 366 yards and rushed for another 55, while Freeman Simmons has a team-high 92 yards through four games. As a collective unit, the Tritons are running for just under 33 yards per contest.

“We have to get our running game going,” ICCC head coach Kevin Twait said. “We’ve worked really hard this week in practice on coming off the ball. If it is third-and-2, we have to get at least three yards.”

Roddrick Bryant has 174 yards receiving on 16 catches, while Isaiah Thomas has 14 receptions.

The defense is paced by Kendrick Suntken and Xavier Graham, who have 35 and 34 tackles. Graham has a team-best 4.5 stops for loss and has recovered two fumbles and picked off a pass.

The Pirates (0-2) compete in the KJCCC alongside No. 5 Garden City, 12th-ranked Butler, No. 13 Hutchinson and 18th-rated Dodge City. Independence lost earlier this year to Fort Scott (22-20) and Garden City (25-7).

Sophomore Jonathan Banks, a transfer from Kansas State University, has thrown for 215 yards and is completing 57-percent of his passes, while adding a team-high 129 yards rushing on the ground. Jordan Stevenson had 77 yards in the season opener but did not play two weeks ago.

“They have some very nice quarterbacks and a much-improved offensive line,” Twait said. “They have a new coach and their talent base is so much better.

“I am sure they are looking at this as one they can get, and we are looking at it the same way.”

Calvin Jackson is the big-play threat for the Pirates, catching eight passes for 139 yards. Drequan Brown and Justin Patterson anchor the defense with 66 combined tackles, including 5.5 for loss.

Last year, the Tritons picked up a 37-34 victory over Independence in five overtimes.

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