Class A Playoffs: Closer Look At The North Central Iowa Games
Teams have been working all year to begin the “second season” around Iowa, and that includes in Class A. After battling through seven weeks of practice, film study and games, everyone is anxious to see how this all plays out.…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingTeams have been working all year to begin the “second season” around Iowa, and that includes in Class A.
After battling through seven weeks of practice, film study and games, everyone is anxious to see how this all plays out.
Here’s a closer look at the Class A games involving teams around north-central Iowa this Friday night:
Madrid at St. Edmond
The Gaels will open the 2020 playoffs inside friendly Dodger Stadium, which has been home to four of their five wins on the year.
In those games, St. Edmond has scored 30, 53, 39 and 62 points, a big reason they are 5-2 and one of the top scoring teams in Class A.
Leading the way for the Gaels is senior quarterback Drew Schaeffer, who continues his assault on the school record books. Schaeffer set a new single-season mark for yards and enters the game with 1,484 on the year and 15 touchdowns.
He has plenty of weapons to work with including Parker Oswald, Kase Baker, Sean Flattery, Anthony Lacina and Tyler Rossmanith. Oswald has 30 receptions for 641 yards and five TDs, Baker has over 600 yards of offense and eight touchdowns, Flattery has rushed for 374 with six scores, Lacina has five touchdowns and Rossmanith leads the team with 510 yards on the ground.
Madrid relies on Brady Leonard and Conner Williams. Leonard has thrown for 406 yards and ran for another 325 with six TDs while Williams adds 335 and two scores on the ground. Cayden Fuson is the leading receiver with 15 catches for 276 and a touchdown.
The winner of this game in Pod 3 takes on either West Hancock or Manson Northwest Webster next.
Manson Northwest Webster at West Hancock
It will be an immediate rematch for defending state champion West Hancock, as the Eagles host Manson Northwest Webster a week after besting them, 48-0.
Cole Kelly has shouldered the load for one of the state’s top rushing units, carrying the ball 146 times for 1,204 yards with 24 touchdowns. Kane Zuehl, Mathew Francis and Ben Martinez each have over 200 yards on the ground.
On defense, the Eagles have four interception returns for touchdowns including two from Braden Walk. They have picked off 12 passes on the year.
For the Cougars, Brayden Johll has battled injuries all year. The senior leads the team with 477 yards and three TDs on the ground. Shawn Kenyon has thrown for 517 yards with Tate Bianchi catching 21 passes for 221 and three TDs.
Awaiting the winner will be either St. Edmond or Madrid.
Bishop Garrigan at Lake Mills
The Golden Bears try to bounce back against a conference rival as they travel to Lake Mills.
Kellen Murphy leads Garrigan with 688 yards and eight scores on the ground while Derrick Kirsch adds another 475. The Golden Bears also feature Angelo Winkel and Joey Trainer in the passing game.
The Bulldogs pushed Saint Ansgar to the end last week before coming up short, 20-16. They have posted a record of 4-3 on the year.
Casey Hanson leads Lake Mills with 637 yards and seven scores on the ground. Bennett Berger has thrown for 585 yards and Kadin Abele has 14 receptions for 406 yards and four scores.
These two teams have played six times, with Bishop Garrigan winning all six. The most recent came last year, as the Golden Bears scored a 22-6 triumph.
Either Garrigan or Lake Mills will face Nashua-Plainfield or South Winneshiek out of Pod 6 next.