DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque football team struggled to find their game early in the Key City Clash and trailed in the first few minutes 14-0. UD finally found the endzone late in the first quarter at 7:19 on a 48 yard pass from Joey Rhomberg to Blake Heffron. UD would score the next three touchdowns to extend the lead 27-14. Loras rallied back with a pair of field goals to slice the lead 27-10 in the third quarter. UD scored on a 36 yard pass from Rhomberg to Dereck-Earl Saint-Hilaire to push the lead to 34-20. Loras scored early in the fourth to close to within a touchdown. UD's defensive unit forced the Duhawks on a 1st and goal and held the Duhawks out of the end zone after four plays with 5:33 left. The Spartans moved the ball down field until an interception allowed the Duhawks another chance to tie. The Spartans defense once again made the big play with 1:50 left at the UD 40 yard line with an interception and the Spartans would run the clock out for another slim victory 34-27. The two teams have been within 10 points seven times in the past eight contests.

UD rushed for 116 yards and held the Duhawks to 17 yards. Loras threw for 254 yards as the Spartans finished with 328 yards through the air. A penalty ridden game for the Spartans allowed the Duhawks nine first downs courtesy of UD's 13 penalties for 146 yards. UD possessed the ball for 26:54 and Lorsas grabbed the edge with 33:06. The Duhawks also held the advantage in third down conversions 10-21 while UD collected 8-15 chances. The two teams were 3-4 in red zone opportunities. 

Isaiah Martinez led UD's ground game rushing 16 times for 104 yards. Joey Rhomberg finished the afternoon completing 21-36 pass attempts for 328 yards and five touchdowns. His three favorite targets were Blake Heffron who caught nine passes for 113 yards and three touchdowns, Dereck-Earl Saint-Hilaire who caught eight passes for 133 yards and two scores, and kali Freeman who caught two passes for 42 yards.

Defensively the Spartans were led by Tristen Villanueva who compiled 12 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss of six yards, an interception return for 41 yards and a pass break-up. Davien Flentroy had nine tackles, Caden Stimmel with eight, and Parker Navitsky who ended with seven tackles and two sacks for losses of 15 yards.

Ryan Caprez kicked off six times for 285 yards (47.5 avg.) Brady Buchmann punter four times for 128 yards and dropped one inside the 20 yard line to pin the Duhawks deep.

The Spartans (1-2 overall, 1-0 in A-R-C) travel to play the Central College Dutch (3-0, 1-0 in A-R-C) on Sept. 27 at 1:00 p.m. in Pella, Iowa. The Dutch beat the Luther College Norse in Decorah, Iowa by a 62-14 margin. UD will return to Chalmers Field on Oct. 4 to host the Nebraska Wesleyan Prairiewolves for homecoming at 2:00 p.m.
 

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
2023 - University of Dubuque 35-23 at Chalmers Field
2024 - University of Dubuque 49-42 at Rock Bowl
2025 - University of Dubuque 34-27 at Chalmers Field