Graceland Falls 37-30 to Clarke in Heart North Division Opener at Huntsman Field

LAMONI, Iowa — Graceland University football dropped its Heart of America North Division opener to Clarke University on Saturday afternoon, 37-30, at Huntsman Field. The Yellowjackets mounted a late rally but were unable to overcome a decisive third quarter from the Pride. With the loss, Graceland moves to 2-2 overall and 0-1 in the Heart North, while Clarke improves to 1-4 overall and 1-0 in the Heart North.

Graceland played much of the game without starting quarterback CJ Brooks, who exited late in the second quarter with a wrist injury. Brooks finished 12-of-23 for 144 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Without their offensive leader, the Yellowjackets rotated under center, but struggled to establish consistent rhythm until the fourth quarter.

"We have to find a way not to come out slow," said head coach Phil Staback. "For the past three weeks we've started flat, and today we paid for it. We were outplayed in too many phases — missed tackles, missed throws, dropped balls. It's difficult to win when you leave that many opportunities on the field.

"As a coaching staff, we need to get this group prepared to play with more urgency next week," continued Staback. "This is the best conference in the NAIA for a reason, and every week you have to bring your best or you're going to get beat."

Game Summary

The Pride struck first with a seven-yard touchdown pass from Mike Reese to Jackson Ostrand midway through the opening quarter. Graceland responded with a 62-yard drive capped by a 13-yard touchdown pass from Brooks to Aaron Bullock I, followed by a successful two-point conversion rush from Jason Wagoner to take an 8-7 lead. Clarke answered before the quarter ended with a 16-yard touchdown reception by Davin Hawkins, pulling ahead 13-8.

Clarke extended the margin early in the second quarter with a one-yard touchdown run by Caleb Perry. Graceland countered with a six-play, 65-yard drive highlighted by a 24-yard touchdown run from Javon Minor, cutting the deficit to 20-15. Late in the half, the Yellowjackets drove inside the Clarke 20, but came up empty on downs. The Pride entered halftime ahead, 20-15.

The third quarter proved costly for the Jackets. Clarke used a field goal, another one-yard touchdown plunge from Perry, and a 24-yard touchdown run from Gustav Nordberg to outscore Graceland 17-0 in the period. Trailing 37-15 entering the fourth, the Yellowjackets faced a steep climb.

Graceland battled back in the final 15 minutes. Marlon Prout Jr. punched in a two-yard touchdown run, adding a successful two-point conversion to make it 37-23 with 6:50 remaining. Moments later, backup quarterback TJ Shanks capped an 11-play, 91-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown pass to Bullock, pulling the Jackets within 37-30 at the 2:23 mark. Despite the late momentum, Clarke ran out the clock to secure the win.

By the Numbers

Graceland outgained Clarke 507 to 445 in total offense and produced 33 first downs to the Pride's 24. The Yellowjackets moved the ball effectively but were hampered by turnovers (two interceptions, two lost fumbles) and inefficiency on third down (3-of-15).

• Passing: Brooks (144 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT), Elijah Ortiz (103 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT), and Shanks (80 yards, 1 TD) combined for 327 passing yards.

• Rushing: Minor carried the workload with 26 attempts for 172 yards and one touchdown, averaging 6.6 yards per carry. Prout added a short-yardage score.

• Receiving: Bullock led the corps with five catches for 58 yards and two touchdowns. PJ Caldwell posted five receptions for 71 yards, while Wagoner and Isiah Rivers-Ro each contributed four catches.

• Defense: Linebacker Jacob Morales led with 11 tackles, while Andrew Stephens added 10. Preston Clark tallied a sack and forced fumble, while Kaden Bryant also recorded a sack.

Clarke quarterback Mike Reese was efficient, completing 11-of-14 for 131 yards and two touchdowns. Backup Carson Estrada added 178 passing yards. Running back Caleb Perry paced the ground attack with 27 carries for 95 yards and two touchdowns. Wideout Isaac Guerrero finished with five receptions for 67 yards.

Defensively, Clarke's Jordan Summage intercepted two passes, returning one 30 yards. The Pride pressured Graceland's quarterbacks throughout the second half, finishing with three sacks and 12 tackles for loss.

Turning Points

The third quarter decided the contest. Graceland opened the half with possession deep in Clarke territory but lost a fumble on fourth down. Clarke answered with a 29-yard field goal to push the lead to 23-15. Moments later, Perry added his second rushing touchdown, followed by Nordberg's 24-yard scoring run. The 17 unanswered points gave Clarke control and left Graceland chasing.

Despite a late rally, the slow start and missed opportunities in the red zone prevented the Jackets from completing the comeback.

Coach's Outlook

Staback emphasized the need for urgency and execution. The Yellowjackets have now allowed opponents to take early leads in three straight contests, forcing late-game rallies. The head coach made clear that consistency across all four quarters will be necessary moving forward in conference play.

Homecoming on the Hill

Next week, Graceland celebrates its 100th Homecoming on the Hill. The milestone event highlights a century of tradition in Lamoni, with alumni, students and the community coming together. Football has long been at the heart of Graceland's homecoming weekend, and this year the Jackets will look to bounce back in front of a home crowd.

UP NEXT:
Graceland will host Culver-Stockton College (MO) on Saturday, October 4, with kickoff scheduled for 2:00 p.m. CDT at Huntsman Field. The contest will serve as the featured event for Homecoming 2025 in Lamoni.

For more information on Graceland football and all of Graceland athletics, visit GUjackets.com.