Harlan storms back against ‘gutsy’ Mount Vernon for Class 3A state championship repeat

Goliath wobbled.

David gave it everything he had but couldn’t land one last stone to drop a prep football giant.

Mount Vernon’s valiant effort put it on the verge of an upset and state championship but it wasn’t enough to hold off Harlan’s comeback bid.

The top-ranked Cyclones scored three touchdowns in the final 12:16, including a 48-yard pass from Teagon Kasperbauer to Cade Sears with 1:24 remaining, to top No. 2 Mount Vernon, 30-23, in the Class 3A state football championship Friday at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.

“I thought it was a very gutsy performance from our players and a championship performance,” Mount Vernon Coach Lance Pedersen said. “There is nothing to hang our heads about.”

The Mustangs (12-1) gave Harlan its toughest challenge since a season-opening loss to 4A runner-up Council Bluffs Lewis Central. The Cyclones were held to their lowest point total by a 3A foe, but still managed a second straight crown and increased their state-record championship total to 14.

“They didn’t expect us to punch them in the mouth like we did,” Mount Vernon senior Henry Ryan said. “We battled every play, every snap. Just so many people stepping up. Our coaches prepared us. It came down to execution. We just didn’t quite get there.

“I’m so proud of my guys. I love them to death and it was a great season.”

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Final in Class 5A: Southeast Polk 49, West Des Moines Valley 14

Iowa State commit Abu Sama ran for state-championship game records of 372 yards and six touchdowns and fourth-ranked Southeast Polk (12-1) won its second straight state title.

Four of Sama's TD runs were 60-plus yards, including the first three.

SEP QB Conner Moberly was 14-of-19 passing for 258 yards.

Ayden Price caught nine passes for 100 yards and a touchdown for the 10th-ranked Tigers (8-5).

[Box score]

Scoring summary

SEP — Carson Robbins 89 pass from Conner Moberly (Hunter Chanthaphon kick), 9:49 1st

SEP — Abu Sama 65 run (Chanthaphon kick), 10:59 2nd

SEP — Sama 73 run (Chanthaphon kick), 2:19 2nd

SEP — Sama 63 run (Chanthaphon kick), 10:42 3rd

SEP — Sama 9 run (Chanthaphon kick), 4:58 3rd

WDMV — Ayden Price 16 pass from Michael Provenza (Dawson Stine kick), 11:22 4th

SEP — Sama 1 run (Chanthaphon kick), 4:23 4th

WDMV — Zay Robinson 93 kick return (Stine kick), 4:09 4th

SEP — Sama 67 run (Chanthaphon kick), 3:07 4th

Southeast Polk 49, West Des Moines Valley 14 (4:09 4th)

My goodness. Touchdown run, 63 yards, Abu Sama. That's six overall and four of 60-plus yards for him tonight. Oh, and another pancake for Kadyn Proctor.

Southeast Polk 42, West Des Moines Valley 14 (4:09 4th)

Zay Robinson returns the kickoff 93 yards for a Valley touchdown.

Southeast Polk 42, West Des Moines Valley 7 (4:23 4th)

How about five touchdowns for Abu Sama? A 13-yard run set up a 1-yard TD.

Southeast Polk 35, West Des Moines Valley 7 (11:22 4th)

Michael Provenza scrambles and finds Ayden Price, who makes a bobbling catch, eludes a tackler and gets Valley on the board with a 16-yard touchdown.

Southeast Polk 35, West Des Moines Valley 0 (4:58 3rd)

TD No. 4 for Abu Sama on the ground. This one was only 9 yards, though.

Southeast Polk 28, West Des Moines Valley 0 (10:42 3rd)

Abu Sama. Sixty-three yards. Touchdown. That's three touchdown runs of 60-plus yards for the SEP star tonight.

Southeast Polk 21, West Des Moines Valley 0 (2:19 2nd)

Give Abu Sama an inch of space and you're not catching him. A 73-yard touchdown run for the Southeast Polk running back, his second explosive score of the game.

Southeast Polk 14, West Des Moines Valley 0 (10:59 2nd)

The defensive stand-to-explosive TD sequence strikes again for Southeast Polk. Two plays after a fourth-and-1 stop, Abu Sama raced 65 yards to the end zone.

Southeast Polk 7, West Des Moines Valley 0 (9:49 1st)

Southeast Polk made a third-and-1 stop for a three-and-out on the first possession of the game.

Next play: Touchdown. Connor Moberly to Carson Robbins for an 89-yard touchdown pass.

Final in Class 1A: Van Meter 35, West Sioux 7

Top-ranked Van Meter (12-1) intercepted four passes and returned two for touchdowns as it won its second straight and third overall state title.

Ben Gilliland completed 7 of 12 passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 62 yards and another score for the Bulldogs.

The Falcons finished 11-2.

[Box score]

Scoring summary

VM — Carter Durflinger 18 pass from Ben Gilliland (Katie Lindsay kick), 7:04 1st

VM — Gilliland 5 run (Lindsay kick), 10:56 2nd

VM — Aydn Netten 55 interception return (Lindsay kick), 8:45 3rd

WS — Mason Coppock 2 pass from Carter Bultman (Omar Rivera kick), 1:19 3rd

VM — Netten 61 pass from Gilliland (Lindsay kick), 10:53 4th

VM — John Braun 43 interception return (Lindsay kick)

Van Meter 35, West Sioux 7 (9:54 4th)

A second pick-6 for the Bulldogs. This time, it's John Braun for 43 yards. PAT good.

Van Meter 28, West Sioux 7 (10:53 4th)

Van Meter responds quickly. Ben Gilliland finds Aydn Netten over the middle for a 61-yard touchdown on the second play of the fourth quarter. PAT good.

Van Meter 21, West Sioux 7 (1:19 3rd)

Carter Bultman finds Mason Coppock on a jump pass after a direct snap for a 2-yard touchdown on third-and-goal to get the Falcons on the board. PAT good. It was a 16-play, 80-yard drive.

Van Meter 21, West Sioux 0 (8:45 3rd)

Van Meter does it with defense to begin the second half. Aydn Netten picked off a third-and-7 pass and returned it 55 yards down the sideline for a touchdown. PAT good.

Halftime: Van Meter 14, West Sioux 0

Ben Gilliland is 6-of-11 passing for 86 yards and a TD, plus has 36 yards rushing and a TD. 

Will Gordon intercepted a pass for the Bulldogs, who limited West Sioux to 57 total yards.

Van Meter 14, West Sioux 0 (10:56 2nd)

Two drives, two touchdowns for the top-ranked Bulldogs. Ben Gilliland ran in a 5-yard TD on a second-and-goal QB keeper to complete a 10-play, 60-yard drive. PAT good.

Van Meter 7, West Sioux 0 (7:04 1st)

Van Meter opens the game with a 13-play, 88-yard drive. Ben Gilliland hit a wide-open Carter Durflinger in the end zone for an 18-yard touchdown pass. Katie Lindsay's PAT is good and the Bulldogs take a 7-point lead.

Williamsburg falls to ball-hogging Central Lyon/George-Little Rock in 2A state football championship

Hogs. Plain old freakin’ ball hogs.

You just couldn’t let your opponent ever have the football, could you Central Lyon/George-Little Rock?

Time of possession was the difference in Friday morning’s Class 2A state championship football game. No question about it.

The ball hogs, or ball-hog Lions, in this case, got a field goal and a touchdown on consecutive marathon possessions in the second and third quarters and beat Williamsburg, 10-6, at the UNI-Dome.

Those consecutive possessions ate up the remaining 9:21 of the first half and the initial 9:05 of the second half. Do the math, and Williamsburg went without the ball for a whopping 18 minutes and 26 seconds.

Unreal.

“We had to get the ball back, and we didn’t get that job done,” said Williamsburg’s Derek Weisskopf.

“We ate up the time of possession,” said Central Lyon-GLR’s Zach Lutmer. “That hurts the defense.”

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Final in Class 3A: Harlan 30, Mount Vernon 23

Harlan rallied from a 16-point deficit with 23 unanswered points in the second half to repeat in Class 3A and add to its state record with a 14th championship.

No. 2-ranked Mount Vernon (12-1) produced a valiant effort without starting quarterback Joey Rhomberg. The Mustangs forced four turnovers, including a Jackson Jaspers pick-6, but the Cyclones (12-1) held them to 106 total yards of offense.

Harlan QB Teagon Kasperbauer completed 22 of 39 passes for 220 yards and three second-half touchdowns (plus two 2-point conversions that helped tie the score in the fourth). Jacob Birch caught 11 passes for 138 yards and a TD and Cade Sears had five catches for 75 yards and two scores, including the game-winning 48-yarder with 1:24 to go.

[Box score]

Scoring summary

MV — Jensen Meeker 32 pass from Henry Ryan (kick blocked), 8:45 1st

H — Aidan Hall 20 run (Stephen Leinen kick), 6:09 1st

MV — Ben Crock 30 field goal, 3:49 2nd

MV — Jackson Jaspers 26 interception return (Crock kick), 6:49 3rd

MV — Ryan 1 run (Crock kick), 4:28 3rd

H — Jacob Birch 6 pass from Teagon Kasperbauer (Cade Sears pass from Kasperbauer), 0:16 3rd

H — Sears 3 pass from Kasperbauer (Birch pass from Kasperbauer), 3:39 4th

H — Sears 48 pass from Kasperbauer (Stehen Leinen kick), 1:24 4th

Harlan 30, Mount Vernon 23 (1:24 4th)

After a stop for no gain, Kasperbauer connects with Sears for a 48-yard TD. PAT is good. Harlan has stormed back to lead.

Mount Vernon 23, Harlan 23 (3:39 4th)

Cade Sears makes a juggling catch in the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown pass from Teagon Kasperbauer.

Kasperbauer to Birch for 2-point conversion and it is tied, 23-23. 3:39 to go. Harlan has used all three timeouts.

Mount Vernon 23, Harlan 15 (0:16 3rd)

Harlan grinds out a scoring drive, going 59 yards on 13 plays. Kasperbauer hits Jacob Birch for a 6-yard TD pass on third-and-goal. Kasperbauer completes conversion pass to Cade Sears. Harlan back within a score.

Mount Vernon 23, Harlan 7 (4:28 3rd)

Harlan fumbles the snap to start ensuing possession. Mount Vernon recovers at the Harlan 32.

Next snap, 29-yard pass from Ryan to Meeker to set up first-and-goal from the 3.

Mount Vernon goes for it on fourth-and-goal from inside the 1 and Ryan gets it in on a QB sneak. 23-7 Mount Vernon with 4:28 left to play. Lots of time left for Harlan, but Mustangs in control for the moment.

Mount Vernon 16, Harlan 7 (6:49 3rd)

Jackson Jaspers picks off Kasperbauer and returns it 25 yards for a TD. PAT is good. Mount Vernon leads 16-7.

Can Mt. Vernon keep it up?

Defense has done all it can so far. Special teams helped set up the go-ahead score. Offense has done just enough with two good field position starts.

Jensen Meeker with an interception to start the second half and the Mustangs take over at the Harlan 25. Harlan forces a field goal. Kick is wide left. Mount Vernon maintains 9-7 lead with 8:26 left in the third.

Mount Vernon 9, Harlan 7 (3:42 2nd)

After a partially blocked punt gives Mount Vernon the ball at the Harlan 28, Mustangs get a 30-yard field goal from Ben Crock to take the lead.

**HIGHLIGHTS**3A Championship 1st half. Harlan vs Mount Vernon.
Download and join us. https://t.co/QaFEpV1jbg pic.twitter.com/nOuVQx4K28

— Iowa High School Sports Network (@Watch_IHSSN) November 18, 2022

Harlan 7, Mount Vernon 6 (6:09 1st)

Harlan goes 84 yards on six plays. Aidan Hall with a 20-yard TD run to cap it. Teagon Kasperbauer with two big passes to Jacob Birch. PAT good and Harlan leads.

Iowa commit Aidan Hall with a 20 yard TD run to give Harlan a 7-6 lead over Mount Vernon in the 1st quarter of the 3A state title game. pic.twitter.com/PFGh1pDXoX

— Blair Sanderson (@BlairRIVALS) November 18, 2022

Mount Vernon 6, Harlan 0 (8:45 1st)

No Joey Rhomberg at QB for Mount Vernon. Henry Ryan taking direct snaps and then passes for a first down on the second play.

Cade Sears with a nice play on a deep pass. Harlan forces a punt and takes over on its own 30. Harlan fumbles the first offensive snap and MV recovers.

Mount Vernon strikes. Fourth-and-14 from the Harlan 32. Ryan with a nice ball to Jensen Meeker for a 32-yard TD pass. Harlan blocks PAT.

Final in Class 2A: Central Lyon/George-Little Rock 10, Williamsburg 6

Top-ranked Central Lyon/George-Little Rock (13-0) won a slugfest against No. 2 Williamsburg (12-1) in a battle of unbeatens.

The Lions had the ball for 35:53 of game time, including a 9:26 drive at the end of the first half that resulted in a go-ahead field goal and a 9:01 drive to start the second half for their only touchdown of the game.

Iowa commit Zach Lutmer ran for 140 yards and passed for 85 and a touchdown for the Lions. CL-GLR limited the Raiders to 136 total yards, 69 of which came on a three-play touchdown drive.

It's the fourth state championship for the Lions and first since 2006. Williamsburg finished runner-up for the third time.

[Box score]

Scoring summary

CL-GLR — Matthew Dieren 22 field goal, 0:00 2nd

CL-GLR — Reece Vander Zee 30 pass from Zach Lutmer (Dieren kick), 2:55 3rd

W — Rayce Heitman 34 pass from Carson Huedepohl (kick failed), 1:42 3rd

Penalty on fourth-and-1

3-yard run for Josh Elbert. Central Lyon with fourth-and-less-than-a-yard. Williamsburg burns its second timeout. 1:57 left. Now THIS is the biggest play of the season for the Raiders.

Williamsburg jumps offside, giving Central Lyon a first down and the ballgame.

And just as I call ballgame, center snap airmailed over Lutmer's head. Scramble for loose ball, but Central Lyon's Elbert falls on it. Wow. Williamsburg burns final timeout. 1:50 left.

CL-GLR trying to seal the win

On third-and-9, Lutmer gets pressure, eludes it and runs for 20 and a Central Lyon first down.

Not sure I've seen one player be virtually an entire offense (linemen excluded). Has such quick feet, smart player. Guess that's why he's going to Iowa. Athlete.

Williamsburg burns one of its second-half timeouts. 2:49 left. Second-and-11 for Central Lyon at its own 40.

Central Lyon/George-Little Rock 10, Williamsburg 6 (1:42 3rd)

Williamsburg gets the football for the first time in 18:27. 4-yard jet run for Rayce Heitman, then he has back-to-back receptions of 31 and 34 yards from Carson Huedepohl, the latter for a touchdown. Just like that. XP failed.

Central Lyon/George-Little Rock 10, Williamsburg 0 (2:55 3rd)

On second-and-14, Lutmer throws perfect fade route to the right front corner of the end zone to Reece Vander Zee for a 30-yard touchdown.

That was like death by a million paper cuts for Williamsburg. It was Central Lyon's opening drive of the second half after a 9:21 drive to end first half. Do the math there. Williamsburg hasn't had ball for over 17 minutes.

Halftime: Central Lyon/George-Little Rock 3, Williamsburg 0

Williamsburg tackled Zach Lutmer after a scramble at the 5. With the clock running, Central Lyon gets its field-goal team out, and Matthew Dieren hits a 22-yarder to give the Lions a 3-0 lead going to the half.

End 1st: Williamsburg 0, Central Lyon/George-Little Rock 0

Central Lyon gets its initial first down, on a Zach Lutmer 3-yard run. Lions will have first-and-10 on their own 47 to begin the second quarter.

Williamsburg had 29 yards in the first quarter, Central Lyon 22. Defensive battle thus far. Williamsburg won field-position game but couldn't do anything with it. Central Lyon not starting to flip that.

From unranked to unbeaten: Mount Vernon rides internal belief to state championship game

Mount Vernon was not in the state contender conversation to start the football season.

The only talk of state title potential occurred in its own locker room. Maybe a few mentioned it over morning coffee in the basement of Bauman’s Clothing or while making small talk in the aisles of Gary’s Foods.

But, the close-knit Mustangs went from unranked to undeniable with each victory.

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Is this finally the year Williamsburg wins a state football championship?

Curt Ritchie admits there is a part of him that is thinking about what a win Friday would mean to his community, his coaching staff, himself. The guy is one of the best head coaches around, been doing it for 30 years, 22 of them at Williamsburg.

There are few programs as consistent as this one. The Raiders have been a playoff qualifier 15 years in a row, won a bunch of postseason games in the 2000s.

But they’ve never won it all, losing in the 2017 2A championship game to Waukon and the 2002 game to Emmetsburg. It’s probably not fair to say anyone deserves to win a title.

But if it is fair to say it, try Williamsburg, try Ritchie.

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Previewing Mount Vernon vs. Harlan

The Mustangs return to the state finals for the 10th time and first time since a runner-up finish in 2015. Mount Vernon has been a pleasant surprise this season, opening the season unranked and climbing to No. 2 in the Gazette poll. Defending state champion Harlan has been a title-game regular, owning the state record for championships (13) and finals appearances (23).

The matchup features two of the top quarterbacks in 3A, ranking 1-2 in passing categories. Mount Vernon’s Joey Rhomberg leads 3A with 2,543 yards, while Harlan’s Teagon Kasperbauer has 2,445. Kasperbauer leads the class with 37 pass TDs, 12 more than Rhomberg. Five Mustangs have at least 22 receptions with three with more than 400 yards, including Brady Erickson (51-586) and Evan Brase (48-640). Running back Henry Ryan adds 888 yards and 10 TDs on the ground for the Mustangs. Mount Vernon’s defense has been a strong force, allowing a mere 5.4 points per game. The Mustangs tallied 13 tackles for loss in a 14-6 semifinal win over Humboldt. Brad Vislisel had three tackles for loss with 1.5 sacks against the Wildcats, giving him nine sacks this season, which ranks second in 3A. University of Iowa commit Aidan Hall has 33 TDs for Harlan. He ranks second in 3A with 1,929 all-purpose yards. Hall is second in 3A with 825 receiving yards, trailing only teammate Cade Sears’ 898 yards.

Previewing Williamsburg vs. Central Lyon-GLR

The Raiders advanced to their third state title game and first since a runner-up finish to Waukon in 2017. Williamsburg, a runner-up in 2002, is still in search of its first championship. All three have been under Coach Curt Ritchie, who has 219 career victories in 29 total seasons with the Raiders and North English. The Raiders’ defense has been exceptional, holding opponents to 157 offensive yards per game, giving up 100 yards passing to just three teams. Williamsburg has forced 39 turnovers, including one in a 31-7 semifinal win over Dubuque Wahlert. The Raiders average 343.2 yards and 48.9 points per game. Quarterback Carson Huedepohl leads the way with 2,043 offensive yards and 34 TDs, hitting receiver Derek Weisskopf 37 times for 628 yards and 12 scores. The pair hooked up nine times for 177 yards and two scores against the Golden Eagles.

Central Lyon-GLR’s Zach Lutmer ranks among the 2A leaders in TDs (37), rushing TDs (22) and rushing yards (1,422). He rushed for 269 yards and three TDs, adding 98 yards and one TD through the air in a 37-14 semifinal triumph over Ida Grove OABCIG. Central Lyon-GLR makes its eighth finals appearance and second in three seasons. The Lions won their only title in 2006.

Catch up on Thursday's state football championships

Remsen St. Mary's (8-Player), Grundy Center (Class A) and Cedar Rapids Xavier (Class 4A) claimed state football titles Thursday. Here's our live updates recap.

How to watch the state football championships

TV: Map of local options, including KFXA 28.1 (DABL) in Eastern Iowa (Mediacom 121, ImOn 717); KDSM 17.1 in Central Iowa (Mediacom 6)

Live stream: Iowa High School Sports Network

Mobile: Download the IHSSN app

Live stats: Iowa High School Athletic Association

Friday's state football schedule

CLASS 2A

10 a.m. — No. 2 Williamsburg (12-0) vs. No. 1 Central Lyon/George-Little Rock (12-0)

CLASS 3A

1 p.m. — No. 2 Mount Vernon (12-0) vs. No. 1 Harlan (11-1), 1 p.m.

CLASS 1A

4 p.m. — No. 2 West Sioux (11-1) vs. No. 1 Van Meter (11-1), 4 p.m.

CLASS 5A

7:30 p.m. — No. 10 West Des Moines Valley (8-4) vs. No. 4 Southeast Polk (11-1)