State football championships schedule

Thursday, Nov. 16

8-Player: Algona Garrigan (11-1) vs. No. 3 Bedford (12-0), 9:30 a.m.

Class A: No. 3 West Hancock (11-1) vs. No. 2 Woodbury Central (12-0), 1 p.m.

Class 1A: No. 4 MFL MarMac (11-1) vs. No. 1 Grundy Center (12-0), 4 p.m.

Class 4A: No. 4 Council Bluffs Lewis Central (10-2) vs. No. 1 Western Dubuque (11-1), 7 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 17

Class 2A: No. 2 Van Meter (12-0) vs. No. 1 Central Lyon/George-Little Rock (12-0), 10 a.m.

Class 3A: No. 8 Sioux City Heelan (11-1) vs. No. 3 Williamsburg (11-1), 1 p.m.

Class 5A: No. 6 Ankeny (9-3) vs. No. 1 Southeast Polk (12-0), 7 p.m.

All the state football semifinal scores

CLASS 5A

No. 1 Southeast Polk 30, West Des Moines Valley 27 (OT)

No. 6 Ankeny 10, No. 7 Ankeny Centennial 7

CLASS 4A

No. 4 Council Bluffs Lewis Central 31, No. 3 North Polk 5

No. 1 Western Dubuque 28, No. 6 Bondurant-Farrar 21 — Game story

CLASS 3A

No. 8 Sioux City Heelan 16, No. 1 Creston 13

No. 3 Williamsburg 45, No. 2 Solon 14 — Game story

CLASS 2A

No. 2 Van Meter 35, No. 4 Monticello 21 — Game story

No. 1 Central Lyon/George-Little Rock 28, No. 5 Spirit Lake 14

CLASS 1A

No. 1 Grundy Center 42, Waterloo Columbus 7

No. 4 MFL MarMac 41, No. 2 Underwood 28 — Game story

CLASS A

No. 3 West Hancock 39, No. 4 Madrid 14

No. 2 Woodbury Central 28, East Buchanan 20 — Game story

8-PLAYER

Algona Garrigan 34, No. 1 Winfield-Mount Union 20

No. 3 Bedford 31, No. 7 Gladbrook-Reinbeck 30

Williamsburg avenges regular-season loss to Solon for state finals return

The third-ranked Raiders forced eight turnovers and Derek Weisskopf passed for four touchdowns, including two to Rayce Heitman, to avenge their only loss of the season and defeat No. 2 Solon, 45-14, in a Class 3A state football semifinal Saturday night at the UNI-Dome.

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Final: No. 3 Williamsburg 45, No. 2 Solon 14 (Class 3A semifinals)

The third-ranked Raiders forced eight turnovers and Derek Weisskopf passed for four touchdowns, including two to Rayce Heitman, to avenge their only loss of the season and defeat No. 2 Solon, 45-14, in a Class 3A state football semifinal Saturday night at the UNI-Dome.

Williamsburg (11-1) advances to the 3A championship game against Sioux City Heelan (11-1) here Friday at 1 p.m. The Raiders were the 2A runner-up last year and are making their fourth finals appearance.

No. 3 WILLIAMSBURG 24, No. 2 SOLON 7, End of third

Raiders have 3rd and 5 from own 27 when play resumes.

CRAZY PLAY GOES SOLON'S WAY

Solon dodges a bullet. Williamsburg interception takes the ball to the Solon 21. Results in a missed field goal. Spartans with the ball back at own 20. 24-0 Williamsburg with 7:54 left in third.

Conlan Poynton runs in from 5 yards out for Solon's first score. 24-7 Willaimsburg.

WILLIAMSBURG 24, SOLON 0, 7:54 3rd Quarter

Solon dodges a bullet. Williamsburg interception takes the ball to the Solon 21. Results in a missed field goal. Spartans with the ball back at own 20. 24-0 Williamsburg with 7:54 left in third.

End of the first half, No. 3 Williamsburg 24, No. 2 Solon 0

Big plays and turnovers have been a key factor here. Two second quarter Solon fumbles resulted in 14 Williamsburg points. Raiders have hit on TD passes of 68 and 19 yards. #iahsfb

BIG PLAY HERE

Big down here. Solon has 4th and 3 from the Williamsburg 43 with 1:39 to go in the first half and down 21-0. Spartans need to convert and get points.

WILLIAMSBURG 21, SOLON 0, 3:48 2nd Quarter

Derek Weisskopf and Rayce Heitman hook up for a 19-yard TD pass. Weisskopf with the pump fake on the double-move route. Heitman goes up and catches it, sneaking one foot in barely in the back right corner of the end zone. PAT is good.

After a 4th down stand and a turnover on downs, Spartans fumble gives Williamsburg a short field, starting at the Solon 37 with 5:07 left in the first half.

ANOTHER SPARTAN TURNOVER

Solon gets a first down and then fumbles on the next play. Williamsburg takes over on Spartans 29 with 8:54 left before half. 14-0 Raiders

WILLIAMSBURG 14, SOLON 0, 11:13 2nd Quarter

Defender gets turned around and Raiders' wideout Braylon Wetjen gets behind the defense. QB Derek Weisskopf hits him for a 68-yard TD pass. Williamsburg leads, 14-0, with 11:13 left in the 2nd quarter.

Less that 13 minutes into the game and Williamsburg has matched its point total from the first meeting.

End of the first quarter: No. 3 Williamsburg 7, No. 2 Solon 0

Raiders face 3rd and 11 from their own 19. Hard fought first quarter. Defenses are controlling the game so far.

WILLIAMSBURG 7, SOLON 0, 3:57 1st quarter

Williamsburg capitalizes on good field position and strikes first. The Raiders cap a 55-yard drive with a 1-yard Rayce Heitman run. TD was set up by a big 36-yard pass from Derek Weisskopf to Heitman (May have pushed off for separation) to set up 1st and goal from the 2. 

Class 3A Semifinal: No. 2 Solon (10-1) vs. No. 3 Williamsburg (10-1)

We're about to start the 3A semifinal between district rivals Solon and Williamsburg. The Spartans won the district crown thanks to a 21-14 victory at home against the Raiders. Solon's defense came up big, turning the Raiders away on a few short fields and even scoring a TD on a fumble return by Barret Schade. Clayton Steckly had two TD catches for the Raiders. This should be a doozy!

Final: No. 8 Sioux City Heelan 16, No. 1 Creston 13 (Class 3A semifinals)

Heelan (11-1) scored the first 16 points and held on to hand top-ranked Creston (11-1) its first loss.

The Crusaders rushed for 234 yards, led by 99 and a touchdown from Ricky Feauto.

Cael Turner passed for 253 yards and a touchdown but Creston turned it over on downs at its 44 on its final drive.

» Box score

Final: No. 1 Central Lyon/George-Little Rock 28, No. 5 Spirit Lake 14 (Class 2A semifinals)

Spirit Lake built a 14-0 first-quarter lead, but the reigning champion Lions stormed back with 21 second-quarter points and booked a return to the Class 2A title game.

Reece Vander Zee ran for 170 yards and three touchdowns, including 16- and 65-yard scores to tie it. Graham Eben's 1-yard run gave the Lions (12-0) the lead with 1:01 before halftime.

Caden Lundt threw a pair of touchdown passes for Spirit Lake (10-2).

» Box score

Van Meter ends Monticello's special season

Monticello, led by Preson Ries, made its debut at the UNI-Dome, making its first state football semifinal appearance since 1977. No. 2 Van Meter scored the last two touchdowns in the final 14 minutes to win 35-21.

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Final: No. 2 Van Meter 35, No. 4 Monticello 21 (Class 2A semifinals)

Bulldogs improve to 12-0. Panthers close the season at 10-2, making their first state semifinal in the UNI-Dome.

» Photos | Box score

VAN METER 35, MONTICELLO 21, 9:43 4th quarter

Ben Gordon with his fourth rushing TD of the game. This time he runs in from 15 yards. PAT is good. Van Meter 35, Monticello 21. 9:43 to go in 4th.
Panthers are still in this one but the margin for error isn't less than razor thin.

VAN METER 28, MONTICELLO 21, End of 3rd

At the end of the third, #2 Van Meter leads #4 Monticello, 28-21. Bulldogs face 2nd-and-12 from the Panthers when play resumes.

VAN METER 28, MONTICELLO 21, 1:46 3rd Quarter

Bulldogs go 78 yards on nine plays. Ben Gordon scores his third TD of the day, scoring from the 4. Baumhover to Trudo for the conversion pass. Bulldogs lead 28-21. 1:46 to go in the first. A couple big conversions on that drive.

MONTICELLO 21, VAN METER 20, 3rd Quarter

Teams exchange punts. Then, Preston Ries scrambling around inside 5. Lofts a deep pass, Van Meter DB misread it big time and it drops right into the arms of Peyton Schilling who takes it the rest of the way for a 94-yard TD pass. WOW! PAT is good and the Panthers lead, 21-20. 8:13 left in 3rd.

HALFTIME: No. 2 Van Meter 20, No. 4 Monticello 14

Van Meter used two interceptions and prime field position to take a 20-7 lead after Monticello scored on the opening drive of the game. The Bulldogs received two TD runs from Ben Gordon, who has 126 rushing yards in the first half, and two field goals from Adlai Lounsbury. Gordon's 74-yard scoring burst really provided a boost to the Bulldogs.

Preston Ries is doing what he's done all season. He has two TD runs (4 and 7) and 178 yards of offense (90 rush, 89 passing). He orchestrated a great drive for the second TD right before half, going 80 yards on 12 plays and taking 4:25 off the clock.
Van Meter will receive the second-half kickoff.

VAN METER 20, MONTICELLO 14, :52 left in 2nd quarter

Monitcello called times out with :55 left. Come back from break and Ries scores on a QB draw from 7 out. PAT is good. 20-14 Van Meter. :52 left before the half.

On that drive, Monti went 80 yards on 12 plays, melting 4:25 off the clock.

VAN METER 20, MONTICELLO 7, 5:17 2nd Quarter

Van Meter's Caleb Moore with an interception to give Bulldogs the ball on own 33. They drive to the Panthers 15 before settling for a 32-yard field goal from Adlai Lounsbury. His second FG this game. 

VAN METER 17, MONTICELLO 7, 9:13 2nd Quarter

Pass goes through receivers into VM DB's hands. The ball is returned to Monticello's 20. INT came a play after what looked like a first down conversion on a pass from Ries to Schilling was ruled out of bounds. Replay may have showed Schilling was in. MY eyes are bad so take that any way you want. Three plays later, Ben Gordon scores from the 8. His second TD of the game. Van Meter leads, 17-7, with 9:13 left in second quarter.

VAN METER 10, MONTICELLO 7, 11:11 2nd quarter

Monticello's defense holds its ground but Van Meter's Adlai Lounsbury connects on a 37-yard field goal. Bulldogs lead 10-7. 11:11 to go before halfitme.

End 1st: Monticello 7, Van Meter 7

Bulldogs have 2nd-and-9 when play resumes.

Monticello moved the ball well the first two drives, but Van Meter defense has responded and Bulldogs won field position after last punt.

VAN METER 7, MONTICELLO, 2:20 in 1st quarter

Van Meter answers on its second possession after Monticello drives into Bulldog territory and punt pins VM at own 6. Ben Gordon breaks a 74-yard run on 3rd and 1. Broke the first line, shed a DB and had open field ahead. 7-7. 2:20 in 1st.

2A Semifinal: Monticello leads Van Meter, 7-0, 9:19 first quarter.

Ries rolled right and hit a wide open Conner Jordan for a 39-yard pass on 3rd and 4. Next play, Ries runs in from the 4. PAT is good. Panthers went 77 yards on eight plays. Ries either ran or passed for all 77 yards.

Class 2A semifinal: No. 4 Monticello vs. No. 2 Van Meter

All settled in at the UNI-Dome for the 10 a.m. kickoff between the Panthers and the Bulldogs. Monticello is making its first semifinal appearance in the Dome. Van Meter has won three titles since 2017, including last year's 1A championship. Monticello is 10-1 and has won 10 straight since losing to 3A Mount Vernon to open the season. Bulldogs are 11-0.

Final: No. 6 Ankeny 10, No. 7 Ankeny Centennial 7 (Class 5A semifinals)

Ankeny (9-3) dealt its crosstown rival season-opening and season-ending losses in 2023, both of which went down to the wire (it was 39-38 in overtime in the regular season).

The Jaguars (7-5) missed a 39-yard field goal attempt with seven seconds left. Braeden Jackson ran for 96 yards and a TD.

Ryan Harrington's 44-yard field goal in the third quarter held up as the game-winner. Daniel Larmie ran for 77 yards and the tying, 3-yard touchdown.

Ankeny is in the title game for the third time in four years.

» Box score

Final (OT): No. 1 Southeast Polk 30, West Des Moines Valley 27 (Class 5A semifinals)

C.J. Phillip scored from a yard out on Southeast Polk's second play of overtime, sending the two-time defending state champion Rams back to the final for the fourth straight year.

Phillip finished with 129 yards rushing and three touchdowns. He ran six times for 56 yards on Southeast Polk's final drive of regulation and scored from a yard out with 1:16 remaining, only for Valley to respond with a 64-yard drive in 1:10, forcing overtime with Drake DeGroote's 15-yard touchdown pass to Jayden McGregory.

The Rams (12-0) built a 14-0 halftime lead, but Valley (6-6) tied it in the fourth on Darius Mason's 4-yard touchdown run following a McGregory interception in Valley territory.

» Box score

MFL MarMac gets it done

A pair of huge forced second-half turnovers produced a pair of huge second-half touchdowns that created separation and helped fourth-ranked MFL MarMac past No. 2 Underwood, 41-28, Friday afternoon in a Class 1A state football playoff semifinal game. A gaudy 408 yards rushing didn’t hurt, either.

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MFL Mar to Class 1A state championship game

No. 4 MFL MarMac earned a 41-28 semifinal win over No. 2 Underwood on Friday afternoon at the UNI-Dome.

Running back Quinn McGeough rushed for five touchdowns and Bryce Radloff had a 34-yard interception return for TD for the Bulldogs (11-1). This was MFL MarMac's first trip to the semifinals.

MFL MarMac's rushing attack was pivotal in this one, as it piled up 408 yards, keeping Underwood's high-flying aerial offensive attack off the field. Time of possession was 33:58 to 14:02 in the Bulldogs' favor.

Sophomore quarterback Garrett Luett threw for 282 yards and three touchdowns for Underwood (11-2). MFL MarMac plays top-ranked Grundy Center (12-0) for the 1A title game next Friday at 4 p.m. 

» Game story | Photos | Box score

MFL Mar to Class 1A state championship game

Via a 41-28. semifinal win over Underwood on Friday afternoon at the UNI-Dome.

Running back Quinn McGeough rushed for five touchdowns and Bryce Radloff had a 34-yard interception return for TD for the Bulldogs (11-1). This was MFL MarMac's first trip to the semifinals.

MFLMM's rushing attack was pivotal in this one, as it piled up 408 yards, keeping Underwood's high-flying aerial offensive attack off the field. Time of possession was 33:58 to 14:02 in the Bulldogs' favor.

Sophomore quarterback Garrett Luett threw for 282 yards and three touchdowns for Underwood (11-2). MFL MarMac plays Grundy Center (12-0) for the 1A title next Friday at 4 p.m. 

MFL MarMac 34, Underwood 21 (10:02 4th)

MFL MarMac's Quinn McGeough with his fourth touchdown run of the game, this one a 4-yarder.

High snap foils the extra-point attempt. Will that be significant?

Quinn McGeough with 4th TD run of game for MFL MarMac. #iahsfb pic.twitter.com/mZtt7cfxPW

— Jeff Johnson (@jeje66) November 10, 2023

MFL MarMac leads Underwood at halftime, 21-13

The Bulldogs got three touchdown runs from Quinn McGeough: 11, 2 and 2 yards, respectively. 

MFL MarMac rushed for 220 yards in the first half, and most of that came after leading rusher Wyatt Powell left the game with a right arm injury of some sort. He came into the game with a broken right hand.

Underwood scored first on a 9-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Garrett Luett to Mason Boothby. A 40-yard pass over the top from Luett to Boothy set up the Eagles touchdown. The extra point hit the right upright.

MFLMM responded with an 80-yard drive, capped by McGeough's 11-yard scoring run. Quarterback Carver Blietz-Bentien had a big run in the drive, 17 yards to the Underwood 12, a play in which he fumbled but recovered.

Ben Krambeer's extra point was good.

Underwood came right back with its quick-strike offense. Another Luett-to-Boothby pass, this one 45 yards, took the football deep into MFLMM territory, with Graham Jensen eventually scoring on a 6-yard run to make it 13-7 late in the first quarter.

But MFLMM came right back, putting together a 15-play, 78-yard scoring drive that took 8:14 off the clock. McGeough, of course, with the touchdown.

Underwood turned the ball over on downs with back-to-back incompletions late in the first half, MFLMM taking over at its own 34. You'd think the Bulldogs might put it in the air, but no need, as nine runs took care of the 66 yards: McGeough taking a sweep right 2 yards to the end zone.

Time of possession: MFL MarMacc 17:11, Underwood 6:49.

MFL MarMac and Underwood preparing for 1A semifinal

It's the first trip to the UNI-Dome and this round for the Bulldogs (10-1). MFL MarMac beat Iowa City Regina last week in the quarterfinals, 22-7.

This will be a clash of much different offensive styles. Underwood (10-1) has a 2,200-yard passer in Garrett Luett, and the Eagles also rushed for 1,900-plus yards.

MFLMM is a ground-and-pound team that runs the Wing-T formation and enjoys ball posession.

Final: No. 1 Grundy Center 42, Waterloo Columbus 7 (Class 1A semifinals)

Grundy Center (12-0) is in the state finals for the fifth straight year; the previous four came in Class A, including winning the championship last season.

The Spartans beat the Sailors (9-3) for the second time this season — the first meeting, on Sept. 21, was much closer, 21-14.

Here, Colin Gordon completed 17 of 20 passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 71 yards and two more scores. The Spartans, who led 21-7 at halftime, outgained the Sailors 391-141.

» Box score

Down 14 early, Western Dubuque recovers to beat Bondurant-Farrar, 28-21

Grant Glausser rushed for 204 yards and a pair of second-half touchdowns, and top-ranked Western Dubuque fought past No. 6 Bondurant-Farrar, 28-21, in a Class 4A state football semifinal Thursday night at the UNI-Dome.

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Final: No. 1 Western Dubuque 28, No. 6 Bondurant-Farrar 21

Grant Glausser finished with 204 yards and two touchdowns on 37 carries. He had 62 yards at halftime.

Western Dubuque (11-1) vs. No. 3 Lewis Central (10-2) for the title at 7 p.m. next Thursday.

Bondurant-Farrar finishes 9-3.

» Game story | Photos | Box score

WESTERN DUBUQUE TOUCHDOWN.

Glausser 11 run (Glausser run)

14 plays, 70 yards, 4:40.

9:25 4th: Western Dubuque 28, Bondurant-Farrar 21.

End-3: Bondurant-Farrar 21, Western Dubuque 20.

Bobcats have 2nd and 8, own 43.

BONDURANT-FARRAR TOUCHDOWN.

Caleb Moore 34 pass from Rial (Robinson kick)

8 plays, 71 yards, 2:48.

2:05 3rd: Bondurant-Farrar 21, Western Dubuque 20.

WESTERN DUBUQUE TOUCHDOWN.

Grant Glausser 2 run (kick blocked)

6 plays, 54 yards, 2:33.

4:53 3rd: Western Dubuque 20, Bondurant-Farrar 14.

HALF: Western Dubuque 14, Bondurant-Farrar 14.

Bobcats spot the Bluejays a pair of TDs and bounce right back.

RUSH: BF 14, WD 47

PASS: BF 149, WD 55

TOTAL: BF 163, WD 102

WESTERN DUBUQUE TOUCHDOWN.

Decker 27 pass from Anderson (Caden Abresch kick)

2 plays, 36 yards, 0:30.

0:05 2nd: Western Dubuque 14, Bondurant-Farrar 14.

WESTERN DUBUQUE TOUCHDOWN.

Brandon Decker 5 pass from Tanner Anderson (Caden Abresch kick)

7 plays, 46 yards. 3:11.

1:40 2nd: Bondurant-Farrar 14, Western Dubuque 7.

BONDURANT-FARRAR TOUCHDOWN.

Batpiny Riak 50 pass from Jordan Rial (Robinson kick)

8 plays, 85 yards, 2:41.

10:32 2nd: Bondurant-Farrar 14, Western Dubuque 0.

End-1: Bondurant-Farrar 7, Western Dubuque 0.

Bluejays have 2nd & 2, own 43. Roughing call kept the drive alive.

Yards: B-F 97, WDbq -5.

BONDURANT-FARRAR TOUCHDOWN.

Caleb Moore 2 run (Jase Robinson kick)

7 plays, 71 yards, 3:07.

3:07 1st: Bondurant-Farrar 7, Western Dubuque 0.

Western Dubuque defers. Bondurant-Farrar will receive.

Bobcats will defend the south goal.

Away we go.

Final: No. 4 Lewis Central 31, No. 3 North Polk 5 (Class 4A semifinals)

Lewis Central (10-2) advanced to the Class 4A state title game for the third straight season; the Titans were runners-up last year, champions in 2021.

Brady Hetzel completed 21 of 31 passes for 208 yards and a touchdown. Kamdyn Cross scored two touchdowns on the ground. Lewis Central limited North Polk (9-3) to 140 yards of offense and intercepted two passes.

» Box score

FINAL: #3 Lewis Central 31, #4 North Polk 5.

Titans vs. Western Dubuque/Bondurant-Farrar victor for the 4A title, next Thursday at 7 p.m.

End-3: Lewis Central 31, North Polk 3.

Winner faces Western Dubuque or Bondurant-Farrar in the finals at 7 p.m. next Thursday.

Woodbury Central ends East Buchanan’s run

QB Drew Kluender piloted Woodbury Central’s second-half surge, and the No. 2 Wildcats ended East Buchanan’s run in the Class A state football semifinals, 28-20.

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HALF: Lewis Central 17, North Polk 0.

Titans appear to be on their way to the 4A final.

Final: No. 2 Woodbury Central 28, East Buchanan 20 (Class A semifinals)

Woodbury Central (12-0) will face No. 3 West Hancock (11-1) for the Class A championship here at 1 p.m. next Thursday.

East Buchanan finishes 9-3.

» Game story | Photos | Box score

WOODBURY CENTRAL TOUCHDOWN.

Kluender 4 run (Lloyd kick)

8 plays, 74 yards, 2:30.

8:14 4th: Woodbury Central 28, East Buchanan 20.

EAST BUCHANAN TOUCHDOWN.

Bowers 83 run (kick failed, after procedure on 2-pt attempt)

1 play, 83 yards, 0:14.

10:44 4th: Woodbury Central 21, East Buchanan 20.

End-3: Woodbury Central 21, East Buchanan 14.

Third quarter is ALL Wildcats.

Bucs have 2nd and 9 from the 29.

WOODBURY CENTRAL TOUCHDOWN.

Kluender 3 run (Lloyd kick)

7 plays, 56 yards, 2:03.

0:32 3rd: Woodbury Central 21, East Buchanan 14.

WOODBURY CENTRAL TOUCHDOWN.

Eric McGill 25 pass from Kluender (Lloyd kick)

4 plays, 71 yards, 1:04.

8:36 3rd: Woodbury Central 14, East Buchanan 14.

HALF: East Buchanan 14, Woodbury Central 7

Bucs will get the ball to start the second half.

If my math is right, here's your stat of the day:

Time of possession: East Buchanan 18:39, Woodbury Central 5:21.

EAST BUCHANAN TOUCHDOWN.

Trystin Russell 1 run (Hunter Bowers run and stretch and the goal line)

15 plays, 65 yards, 7:24

9:32 2nd: East Buchanan 14, Woodbury Central 7.

End-1: Woodbury Central 7, East Buchanan 6.

Bucs have 4th and a foot from the 19 when we return.

WOODBURY CENTRAL TOUCHDOWN.

Jayden Lloyd 53 pass from Drew Kluender (Lloyd kick)

4 plays, 69 yards, 1:33.

4:56 1st: Woodbury Central 7, East Buchanan 6.

TOUCHDOWN EAST BUCHANAN.

Hunter Bowers 6 run (run failed)

8 plays, 28 yards, 4:06.

6:29 1st: East Buchanan 6, Woodbury Central 0.

Final: No. 3 West Hancock 39, No. 4 Madrid 14 (Class A semifinals)

West Hancock scored the first 32 points, rushed for 261 yards and returned to the Class A state championship game for the fourth time in five years. The Eagles won the title in 2019 and 2021.

West Hancock (11-1) led 16-0 at halftime with Mitchell Smith accounting for a TD on the ground and through the air to Kellen Smith. Then Jaxen Peterson returned the opening kickoff for a score. Kale Zuehl totaled 138 yards rushing and two TDs.

Madrid finished 11-1.

» Box score

Wednesday's 8-Player semifinals

Algona Garrigan 34, No. 1 Winfield-Mount Union 20

Garrigan (11-1) scored 28 unanswered points in the second half and knocked off an unbeaten team for the third straight week. Caden Roethler scored all four second-half touchdowns and finished with 181 yards rushing.

» Box score

No. 3 Bedford 31, No. 7 Gladbrook-Reinbeck 30

Sophomore Kase Coleman kicked the game-winning field goal from 24 yards out with 13 seconds remaining, the first field goal the Bulldogs (12-0) attempted all season. Bedford trailed 30-16 in the fourth quarter and got within two via a pair of Conner Nally touchdown runs, failing the 2-point conversion on each. Nally recovered a fumble to help set up the winning kick and intercepted a pass to seal the win.

» Box score

Final in 8P semifinals: Bedford 31, Gladbrook-Reinbeck 30. Bulldogs to the finals for the first time in 25 years on a 24-yard FG by Kase Coleman with just 13 seconds left. Great Eight-Player #iahsfb showdown.
🏈 https://t.co/dTu0lf7gxG pic.twitter.com/3XTpUr4ugG

— IHSAA (@IHSAA) November 8, 2023

A closer look at the Gazette-area semifinals

The warmth and comfort of the UNI-Dome will be the scene for the remainder of the 2023 Iowa high school football season.

Read more: Semifinals with Gazette-area teams

How to watch the state semifinals

TV: Iowa High School Sports Network affiliates, including MC22

Live stream: IHSSN.com or Watch IHSSN mobile app (subscription required)

Read more: Here's the complete viewing guide