West Branch Bears win one for Butch, and themselves, in state football quarterfinals

 

West Branch rallied in the fourth to beat MFL MarMac, 27-24, in a thrilling 1A state football quarterfinal that sends the Bears and ailing coach Butch Pedersen to the 1A semifinals, The Gazette's Jeff Johnson writes.

Southeast Polk shuts out Cedar Rapids Prairie in state football quarterfinals

 

The bad breaks never stopped coming for the Hawks in a 41-0 loss, Gazette correspondent Rob Gray writes.

Carlisle ends Iowa City Liberty’s winningest football season

 

Carlisle rushed for 530 yards in a 56-28 win over the Lightning, Gazette correspondent Ryan Pleggenkuhle writes.

Photos: Mount Vernon 17, Solon 0

𝗗𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗗

📸 @geoffstellfox

Photos from @MustangFB1's #iahsfb quarterfinal win over Solon ⤵️

— Iowa Prep Sports (@iowaprepsports) November 5, 2022

Cedar Rapids Xavier pulls away late to beat Indianola in state football quarterfinals

 

Michael Cunningham ran for 173 yards and a TD for the Saints, who return to the UNI-Dome, The Gazette's K.J. Pilcher writes.

No fluke: Mount Vernon tops Solon again, 17-0, in a 3A football quarterfinal

 

The 3A No. 2-ranked Mustangs forced 4 turnovers and held the Spartans to 2 second-half yards in their second win in the series this season, The Gazette's Jeff Linder writes.

Williamsburg matches high expectations with another trip to the UNI-Dome

 

The Class 2A second-ranked Raiders mastered the elements and dominated from start to finish, beating Centerville 35-0 for theird third semifinal appearance in four years, Gazette correspondent Culley Kline writes.

Photos: West Branch 27, MFL MarMac 24

𝗗𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗗

📸 @_graceephotos

Photos from @wbbearsfootball's #iahsfb quarterfinal win over MFL MarMac ⤵️

— Iowa Prep Sports (@iowaprepsports) November 5, 2022

Big pick-6 for Underwood

 

This Class 1A game was back and forth for a while, but Underwood is starting to pull away from Pella Christian now, thanks in part to this big swing.

TOUCHDOWN UNDERWOOD!! Alex Ravlin with an 83-yard pick 6! Underwood 40 Pella Christian 21, 9:02 4th qtr. #iahsfb pic.twitter.com/fyILeJWNkC

— Austin Heinen (@HEINOHeinen) November 5, 2022

Here are the final scores

 

CLASS 5A

 

No. 2 West Des Moines Dowling 41, No. 6 Waukee Northwest 7

 

No. 4 Southeast Polk 41, Cedar Rapids Prairie 0

 

No. 6 Johnston 23, No. 1 Ankeny 13

 

No. 10 West Des Moines Valley 27, No. 5 Cedar Falls 13

 

CLASS 4A

 

No. 7 North Scott 20, No. 2 Waverly-Shell Rock 10

 

No. 4 Carlisle 56, No. 5 Iowa City Liberty 28

 

No. 3 Cedar Rapids Xavier 23, No. 8 Indianola 6

 

No. 1 Lewis Central 47, Glenwood 24

 

CLASS 3A

 

No. 1 Harlan 55, No. 8 Nevada 7

 

No. 2 Mount Vernon 17, No. 5 Solon 0

 

No. 6 Humboldt 34, No. 3 Independence 26

 

No. 3 Adel ADM 68, No. 7 North Polk 42

 

CLASS 2A

 

No. 2 Williamsburg 35, Centerville 0

 

No. 1 Central Lyon/George-Little Rock 42, No. 7 West Lyon 7

 

Dubuque Wahlert 41, Crestwood 6

 

No. 5 Ida Grove OABCIG 19, No. 3 Spirit Lake 0

 

CLASS 1A

 

No. 1 Van Meter 45, Sigourney-Keota 0

 

No. 2 West Sioux 49, Western Christian 20

 

No. 3 West Branch 27, No. 8 MFL MarMac 24

 

No. 4 Underwood 47, No. 7 Pella Christian 28

 

CLASS A

 

No. 2 Grundy Center 20, No. 8 East Buchanan 6

 

No. 1 West Hancock 52, No. 6 North Linn 21

 

No. 3 Lynnville-Sully 20, No. 5 Avoca AHSTW 0

 

No. 4 Woodbury Central 27, No. 7 Hartley HMS 24

Xavier extends its lead

 

After an interception, Grant Helmle added a 12-yard TD run and Cedar Rapids Xavier now has a two-score lead against Indianola with 10:50 remaining.

Saints up 20-6! pic.twitter.com/JdUqDSeaOR

— Xavier Activities (@XavierSaintsAD) November 5, 2022

It's looking like an All-CIML Final Four

 

Southeast Polk and West Des Moines Valley have comfortable leads in the two Class 5A quarterfinal games that aren't CIML-vs.-CIML

Heading into Q4: 10 CF to 27 Valley #always #CFTigerpride #iahsfb pic.twitter.com/B0ys3UJdXi

— Cedar Falls Tiger Booster Club (@CF_Booster) November 5, 2022

North Scott adds some separation

 

After a stop on fourth-and-3, the Lancers broke a big run to go up 10 late in Waverly.

NS -- Dylan Marti 44 TD run (officially)

Regan kick, 4:35 4th

North Scott 20
Waverly-Shell Rock 10 #iahsfb #HungryHobo11

— Matt Coss (@mattcoss78) November 5, 2022

Carlisle punches back

 

It only took four plays for the Wildcats to go back up 21.

Carlisle's running game is just too much for Liberty's defense right now. Laughlin punches in a 7-yard TD and it's back to a 21-point game. 49-28, 4:06 left in the 3rd. #iahsfb

— Ryan Pleggenkuhle (@ryno_plegge) November 5, 2022

Liberty isn't done yet

 

Down 28-0, then 42-14, Iowa City Liberty has responded. The Lightning have the offense to pull off a comeback. Can they get enough stops against a physical Carlisle attack?

Wow. Beckman connects with Trey Gregoire for a one-yard touchdown and it's now Carlisle 42, Liberty 28. It's a ballgame again. 5:39 to go in the 3rd. #iahsfb

— Ryan Pleggenkuhle (@ryno_plegge) November 5, 2022

This kick couldn't have been easy

 

In the rain, Kale Christensen kicks a 29-yard field goal to extend Cedar Rapids Xavier's lead over Indianola to 13-6.

Saints go up 13-6! pic.twitter.com/rH6w4MGNW6

— Xavier Activities (@XavierSaintsAD) November 5, 2022

North Scott takes the lead

 

Class 4A No. 2 Waverly-Shell Rock will need a response to return to the Dome and avoid its first loss of the season. The tying field goal is in play, though.

NS -- Drew Kilburg 7 TD pass from Kyler Gerardy (kick blocked), 9:24 4th. That is big.

North Scott 13
Waverly-Shell Rock 10#iahsfb #HungryHobo11

— Matt Coss (@mattcoss78) November 5, 2022

West Hancock pulling away

 

The top-ranked Eagles have been just too much for North Linn.

Pablo. Calles.

He comes up with his second turnover, recovering a Haughenbury fumble on the first play of North Linn’s drive.

Mitchell Smith play action to a wide open Rylan Barnes and it is a 37-yard TD pass. This one is all but over

West Hancock 40, North Linn 7#iahsfb

— Zach Martin (@zach_martin95) November 5, 2022

OABCIG makes it 19-0

 

OABCIG is in a great position to hand Spirit Lake its first loss. Big-time highlight catch-and-run here from Gabe Winterrowd.

OABCIG is pulling away.

🦅 - 19
🏹 - 0

8:34 3Q #iahsfb pic.twitter.com/8mzyqXeBr4

— Matt Heinrichs (@mattheinrix) November 5, 2022

MFL MarMac starts with a bigger bang

 

West Branch cut into the lead to open the second half. MFL MarMac needed just one play to respond.

MFLMM’s first play of second half is 81-yard TD bong from
Zach Driscoll to Karter Decker. Decker with two-point run for 24-13 lead.

— Jeff Johnson (@jeje66) November 5, 2022

Grundy Center takes a 2-score lead

 

The second-ranked Spartans started the second half with an important touchdown drive against No. 8 East Buchanan.

Touchdown Grundy Center

Justin Knaack runs it in from 2 yards out. Gordon kick. Nice opening drive for Grundy.

Grundy Center 20, East Buchanan 6 (6:18 3rd) #iahsfb pic.twitter.com/Oj6Lur9wbF

— Jake Ryder (@jakearyder) November 5, 2022

Depleted West Branch starts the second half with a bang

 

This game against MFL MarMac could be in store for one of the more exciting finishes tonight. But the Bears will have to do it without one of their top contributors.

Cale Seydel with 50-yard TD run on West Branch’s third play of second half. MFLMM lead cut to 16-13. WB top player Andy Henson out with injury. #iahsfb

— Jeff Johnson (@jeje66) November 5, 2022

Indianola cuts into the Xavier lead

 

Big touchdown just before halftime at Cedar Rapids Xavier. Indianola converted a fourth down, then scored to make it 10-6 Saints.

Edgington with a 2-yard run off the right edge for a TD. PAT snap mishandled. But, Indians go 10 plays for 66 yards to get on the board. Xavier leads, 10-6, with :24.8 left before half. #iahsfb

— K.J. Pilcher (@kjpilcher) November 5, 2022

OABCIG leads the rematch

 

No. 5 Ida Grove OABCIG's only loss this season is to No. 3 Spirit Lake. But the Falcons lead the unbeaten Indians at halftime in this Class 2A quarterfinal.

HALFTIME: OABCIG scores twice in the first half. Spirit Lake’s offense has sputtered. Leaned on the run game in the first half, but it just hasn’t been there. DeJean doing DeJean things. Falcons are fired up heading into the locker room with a 12-0’lead. #iahsfb

— Matt Heinrichs (@mattheinrix) November 5, 2022

Underwood breaks a tie before halftime

 

This Class 1A quarterfinal is shaping up to be one of the best games of the night. No. 4 Underwood punched it in from a yard out to take the lead against No. 7 Pella Christian with less than a minute until halftime.

TOUCHDOWN UNDERWOOD! Graham Jensen powers it in from a yard out. PAT is blocked. Underwood 20 Pella Christian 14, :58 2nd qtr. #iahsfb pic.twitter.com/k28ffVklRC

— Austin Heinen (@HEINOHeinen) November 5, 2022

Williamsburg dominating

 

Unsurprisingly, Class 2A No. 2 Williamsburg is up big at halftime. The Raiders have held Centerville to just one first down.

 

Similarly, the top-ranked team in 2A, Central Lyon/George-Little Rock, leads rival West Lyon 27-0 at the half.

Halftime score, Williamsburg leads Centerville 28-0. The Raiders are outgaining Centerville 164 to 18. The Big Reds have just one first down.#iahsfb

— culleykline19 (@culleykline19) November 5, 2022

Halftime: Mount Vernon 10, Solon 0

 

The stats are pretty even in this rivalry, but Solon has two turnovers as host Mount Vernon leads by 10 at halftime.

First downs: Solon 7, MV 5
Rushing: Solon 94, MV 28
Passing: Solon 18, MV 123
Yards: Solon 112, MV 151
Turnovers: Solon 2, MV 0

— Jeff Linder (@jtlinder) November 5, 2022

Lewis Central takes the lead

 

After trailing 7-0 after one, it didn't take long for Class 4A's top-ranked team to score twice and take the lead against Glenwood.

10:55 2nd: LC jumps in front 13-7. Kammrad found Witte for 47 yards to get to the 1 and then Kammrad ran it in #kmasports #iahsfb

— Ryan Matheny (@ryanmatheny16) November 5, 2022

Liberty finds the end zone

 

Iowa City Liberty got on the board, but still has a long way to go after a huge first half from Carlisle.

Liberty is in the board. Dantrell Skinner bulldozes his way in from 4 yards out. It's now Carlisle 28, Liberty 7. 3:28 until intermission. #iahsfb

— Ryan Pleggenkuhle (@ryno_plegge) November 5, 2022

Wahlert is cruising

 

Dubuque Wahlert scored on its first four possessions to take a 28-0 lead against Crestwood. This is the only matchup between unranked teams tonight.

DW -- Brosius 43 run (Weber kick), 3:55 2Q

All Golden Eagles in this one so far. Four possessions, four touchdowns. Crestwood has just two first downs. 28-0. #iahsfb

— TH Sports (@THsportsfeed) November 5, 2022

Glenwood leads No. 1 Lewis Central

 

Class 4A's top-ranked team scored on the first play of the second quarter, but Glenwood still leads the Titans after the extra point was no good.

Lewis Central's Braylon Kammrad scores on a 7-yard run to make the score 7-6 Glenwood after a failed XP. 11:56 left in the first half. #iahsfb

— Peter Huguenin (@PeterHuguenin1) November 5, 2022

West Hancock has an answer for North Linn

 

North Linn QB Tate Haughenbury returned from mono this week and helped cut the top-ranked Eagles' lead in half with a touchdown pass.

 

And then West Hancock immediately went back up two scores.

Wow

After North Linn scores on a 33-yard TD pass from Haughenbury to Jake Van Etten that makes it a 14-7 game, West Hancock answers

Jaxen. Peterson. He houses the kickoff return 75 yards and that is a big time play

West Hancock 20, North Linn 7#iahsfb

— Zach Martin (@zach_martin95) November 5, 2022

Another turnover hurts Prairie

 

So far, this game has a similar script as the regular-season meeting. Cedar Rapids Prairie fumbles and is already in a big hole at No. 4 Southeast Polk.

Southeast Polk turns a Prairie fumble into a quick touchdown drive capped by Harrison Gibson’s 9-yard run.

Rams 21, Hawks 0, 3:35 Q2

— ROB GRAY (@ROBWGRAY) November 5, 2022

MFL MarMac gets a safety

 

A blocked punt extends the MFL MarMac lead at West Branch.

MFLMM with blocked punt that goes out of end zone. Safety. Bulldogs 10, West Branch 6 (7:43 2nd). #iahsfb

— Jeff Johnson (@jeje66) November 5, 2022

East Buc scores ... through the air!

 

East Buchanan didn't complete a single pass in last week's 57-21 win over Alburnett. So the Buccaneers maybe caught No. 2 Grundy Center a little off guard with a pass to tie this game up.

Touchdown East Buchanan

Trystin Russell hits Ryland Cornell for the short passing score. 2-pt run no good.

Grundy Center 6, East Buchanan 6 (8:50 2nd) #iahsfb

— Jake Ryder (@jakearyder) November 5, 2022

Van Meter rolling

 

Top-ranked Van Meter has a 21-0 lead over Sigourney-Keota after one quarter. Here's a look at a Ben Gilliland fourth-down touchdown pass.

Van Meter up 21-0 over Sigourney-Keota end of 1Q; #iahsfb #vanmeter pic.twitter.com/xdjzzvfdPr

— John Gilliland (@John4Iowa) November 5, 2022

MFL MarMac takes the lead

 

MFL MarMac found its footing at West Branch with a 65-yard touchdown drive. The Bulldogs took the lead with a 2-point conversion.

MFLMM with 65-yard drive. Carver Blietz-Bentsen 1-yard TD run. Wyatt Powell 2-point run gives Bulldogs 8-6 lead on West Branch. #iahsfb

— Jeff Johnson (@jeje66) November 5, 2022

Liberty already down 14-0

 

After a long Carlisle touchdown drive, Iowa City Liberty fumbled it away and the Wildcats took advantage. It's already 14-0.

Carlisle's defense forces a Lightning fumble and recover it at Liberty's 14. Jack Laughlin runs it in on the next play. 14-0 Carlilse, 8:14 to go in the first. #iahsfb

— Ryan Pleggenkuhle (@ryno_plegge) November 5, 2022

Mount Vernon goes 77 yards on its opening drive

 

Mount Vernon's explosive offense has led to some high-scoring performances, but the Mustangs only needed 17 points to beat Solon in the regular season. In less-than-ideal conditions, they produced a 77-yard touchdown drive to take an early lead here.

MOUNT VERNON TOUCHDOWN.

Jackson Hird 3 run (Ben Crock kick).

11 plays, 77 yards, 5:23.

6:37 1st: Mount Vernon 7, Solon 0.#iahsfb

— Jeff Linder (@jtlinder) November 5, 2022

Xavier gets an early big play

 

Michael Cunningham's 61-yard touchdown run gave the Saints the lead against Indianola.

Indianola drives to the Saints 31 on a couple big Edgington runs. Thomas Sundell with a big stop on a screen on 4th and 3. Xavier takes over at own 31. Three plays later, Michael Cunningham with 61 yd TD run. CRX 7-0. 8:38 1Q. #iahsfb

— K.J. Pilcher (@kjpilcher) November 5, 2022

Blocked punt leads to Southeast Polk TD

 

Cedar Rapids Prairie came into its rematch against No. 4 Southeast Polk knowing it can't turn the ball over as much as it did in a 41-0 regular-season start. Not off to a promising start in that department.

At the CR Prairie-Southeast Polk game in less than ideal conditions.

No. 4 Rams just took the lead on a blocked punt that turned into a touchdown.

SEP 7, Hawks 0, 9:47 Q1

— ROB GRAY (@ROBWGRAY) November 5, 2022

West Branch is on the board

 

An inspiring story in West Branch this season, especially if the Bears get to the Dome. They're off to a good start on both sides of the ball.

MFLMM 3 and out, punt. Two plays and West Branch td: Andy Henson 37 run. XP blocked. 6-0. #iahsfb

— Jeff Johnson (@jeje66) November 5, 2022

How to watch Iowa high school football playoff games

 

Pretty much every game will be live-streamed tonight, some available for free, some with an NFHS Network subscription.

 

Here are the links to the Gazette area games:

 

• 5A: Cedar Rapids Prairie at No. 4 Southeast Polk (CISN)

 

• 4A: No. 4 Carlisle at No. 5 Iowa City Liberty (Bolt Vision)

 

• 4A: No. 8 Indianola at No. 3 Cedar Rapids Xavier (NFHS Network)

 

• 3A: No. 3 Independence at No. 6 Humboldt (Humboldt Wildcat Productions)

 

• 3A: No. 5 Solon at No. 2 Mount Vernon (Go MV Stangs YouTube)

 

• 2A: Centerville at No. 2 Williamsburg (Williamsburg CSD YouTube)

 

• 1A: No. 8 MFL MarMac at No. 3 West Branch (KCTN FM 100)

 

• 1A: Sigourney-Keota at No. 1 Van Meter (NFHS Network)

 

• A: No. 8 East Buchanan at No. 2 Grundy Center (GC Athletics)

 

• A: No. 6 North Linn at No. 1 West Hancock (KIOW FM 107.3)

Ben Kampman emerges as leader for Solon

 

The son of former NFL Pro Bowler Aaron Kampman has seen his passion for football blossom this season, along with his on-field production and leadership off it, The Gazette's K.J. Pilcher writes.

Cedar Rapids Prairie football will be done Joensing after this season

 

Senior Tate Joens is the last in a very long line of family members who have played or cheerleaded for Prairie, The Gazette's Jeff Johnson writes.

 

The Hawks play at No. 4 Southeast Polk in the Class 5A playoffs tonight.

Iowa high school football playoffs: 10 area quarterfinal games to watch

 

Here's a closer look at the area playoff games, from The Gazette's K.J. Pilcher.