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Last Updated: Dec 12, 2008 - 4:54:39 PM |
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Tigers fall to West Branch in playoffs
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On Monday, November 3, the Iowa Valley Football team hosted the first round playoffs game against West Branch for what, all who had followed high school football knew would be, a tough game. West Branch, who was 7-0 in the district and 8-1 overall, hadn’t been scored against in their last 4 games.
In the first quarter West Branch scored on a 5-yard run with the PAT good. The Bears scored again on a 19-yard run making the PAT, combined for a score of IV-0, WB-14.
In the second quarter West Branch scored on a 38-yard pass with the PAT good and again on a 9-yard run but Iowa Valley blocked the PAT. That sign of weakness seemed to spark the Tigers, with Iowa Valley’s Jared Findlater then scoring on a 15 yard pass from Mason Howar. Joe Cobb made the PAT for an IV 7, WB 27 score and the Bear’s four game shut out status was over before the half.
In the third quarter, West Branch scored on a 5-yard run and then on a 2-point conversion. IV-7, WB-35.
In the fourth quarter, Iowa Valley’s Brian Behrens scored on a 24-yard pass from Howar and Cobb made the PAT. The game ended with Iowa Valley 14, West Branch 35.
“Our guys played hard in this game,” said Iowa Valley Coach Vince McGee. “We just ran into a better team. West Branch is an excellent team, they are definitely one of the best in the state in class 1A. We feel that we did play well in this game even though we lost. We were the first team to score on West Branch in four games, and we gave them a closer game than any of their other playoff opponents so far.”
Defensively, Iowa Valley allowed 244 yards on the ground and 128 in the air with West Branch’s Adam Donohoe completing 7 of 11 passes. Iowa Valley’s Nick Heisdorffer snagged one interception and the Tigers forced one Bear’s fumble (recovered by Seth Gunzenhauser) for a total of two Bear turnovers and 372 yards allowed in 51 Bear plays.
Brice Brecht led defensively with 6 tackles, 8 assists and one sack followed by Chase Meier with 9 tackles and one assist, Chris Berry with 4 tackles and 5 assists, Gunzenhauser with 5 tackles, 3 assists (one TFL) and one fumble recovery, Howar with 4 tackles and 4 assists, Taylor Starkweather with 3 tackles, 4 assists and one sack, Luke Messamer with 2 tackles and 3 assists (one TFL), Heisdorffer with 3 tackles, one assist, one interception and one blocked PAT and TJ Mangold, Brian Behrens and Ryan Cronbaugh also contributing.
Offensively the Tigers had 27 carries for 42 yards earned and no fumbles. They passed for 217 yards with Howar completing 17 of 29 passes for 2 TDs with one interception. Total Tiger offense consisted of 56 plays for 259 yards earned, 2 TDs, one turnover and 15 first downs.
In rushing, Heisdorffer led the Tigers with 11 carries for 57 yards followed by Meier with one carry for one yard. Findlater had one fumble recovery.
In passing action, Findlater led with 7 catches for 85 yards and one TD, followed by Cronbaugh with 4 catches for 70 yards, Behrens with 3 catches for 32 yards and one TD, Meier with one catch for 22 yards and Heisdorffer and Brecht each with one catch for 4 yards. Cobb was 2 for 2 in PATs.
“We are proud of the way that our guys finished the season,” said Coach McGee. “ We are especially proud of the seniors who have put in four good years here. We stumbled a couple of times early in the season, but these guys fought through that adversity and in the end they emerged with the best season that Iowa Valley football has had in six years. To walk away from this season with a state playoff trophy is definitely something for which all of them should be proud.”
The Tigers ended the season third in the district. West Branch moved on to play Maquoketa Valley on Friday, November 7, with West Branch winning 39-6. The Bears will play Emmetsburg next at the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, November 15.
© Copyright 2008 by The East Iowa Herald
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