CAM Championship! Cougars take down Easton Valley in a thriller

November 18th, 2021 by admin

Photo Credit: Joe Wollum

The CAM Cougars are your 2021 8-Player State Champions. CAM came out on top of a wild one with Easton Valley 42-40 on Thursday morning at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.

It was a battle to the very end and it started fast with the two teams scoring three times in the first 5 minutes of the game. Easton Valley struck first with an Andin Farrell touchdown catch from Conor Gruver and they wouldn’t trail until late in the third quarter. The River Hawks got up 21-6 late in the first but CAM clawed back within five by halftime. Lane Spieker scored on a 40-yard run with 4:12 left in the half and Cade Ticknor tacked on a two point conversion to make it 27-22 at the break.

Easton Valley came out strong in the second half with an 11-play drive that was capped off by a Conor Gruver 1 yard sneak to make it 33-22 after a failed conversion. CAM then responded once again. Lane Spieker ripped off a 48-yard touchdown run two plays later to make it 33-28. The Cougars then got the ball back and went 7 plays and 70 yards to take the lead for the first time. Spieker hit Cade Ticknor on a 50-yard touchdown pass where Ticknor went up high to make a terrific catch. Ticknor added the 2pt conversion and CAM went up 36-33.

CAM then came up with a huge defensive play. Easton Valley had driven all the way down to the Cougar 10 yard line but CAM came up with a huge stop on a big push by Colton Erickson in the middle and got the ball back. 8-plays later Spieker scored on a 23-yard run to put the Cougars up 42-33. Easton Valley didn’t go away quietly though. The River Hawks hit a 45-yard touchdown pass from Gruver to Aidan Gruver and hit a PAT to cut the lead to 42-40 with 2:52 left. CAM was forced to punt the ball back to Easton Valley with 2:08 left but the Cougar defense held firm. The River Hawks had 1st and 10 at their own 32 but missed on two pass plays before getting two straight penalties to back em up to 3rd and 20. Two more incompletions and the Cougars earned victory formation and their first ever State Championship. CAM Head Coach Barry Bower was filled with joy for his team and community.

Coach Bower said his team found a way to make the big plays in the second half to get the win. He talked about those important defensive stops.

CAM senior Lane Spieker shared what it means to be a State Champion.

Spieker said they knew they could get it done if they executed well.

Senior Cade Ticknor talked about the difference later in the game.

CAM Head Coach Barry Bower and his former Coach Dean Downer

Spieker finished with 222 yards and 3 scores on the ground and 243 yards with 2 scores through the air. He finishes the most prolific rushing season in history with 3,462 yards and 72 touchdowns. Ticknor had a huge game as well with 80 yards on the ground and 1 score and 2 catches for 57 yards and a touchdown. CAM outgained Easton Valley 514-425 for the game. The Cougars cap off a historic season at 13-0.

Listen to full postgame audio below. Coach Bower, Cade Ticknor, and Lane Spieker.