8-man

Tyler Tonderum,= junior, FOR Armstrong Ringsted is a flat out stud. He was playing with a different gear than every player on the field in both 8-man semi final games. So far he has 42 td’s and more than 2000 yards rushing.. He is on his way to break the 8-man record for all time rushing yards if he stays healthy next season he and Quarterback Ridge Christiansen and the whole mustang squad don’t look like a team even thinking about next year.

Class A

North Tama’s Wyatt Hanus is talented and looks appears to be a bit crazy. I guess better put it might be fearless. He plays with a reckless style that poses a lot of problems for any defense. I can’t see stopping him. 300 yards and 3 scores in the semi plus he can run

Kelan Richardson is one of the most solid football players in Iowa during the past 3 seasons. He has been a difference maker for coach Case and the mustangs. He was lost for 5 weeks to a broken tibia. He returned to give Southern Cal a huge boost in the dome. His Heart vs. Hanus explosion should make for what I believe will the best final in all 6 classes.

1-a

Jesse Selgeby is the key player in this game Selgeby must be a factor for West Lyon to hang with Emmetsburg. Another 232 yard two touchdown effort from Selgeby like he had in the semi is important for the wildcats to play keep away from the powerhouse they are about to take on. Emmetsburg is a load. Talyor Morris is stud but Kliegl Jones along with several other weapons make the E-Hawks big trouble. They will not beat themselves.

2-A

Got two here. James Morris of Solon and Jordan Gacke CL-GLR. Two Tremendous football players. If you follow High School football you know the deal here. Gacke returning from an injury last year to lead the lions to a third rematch with the Spartans. His coach mentioned to me he is the best football player he has coached. Enough said there.

The future Hawkeye Morris a Junior, has been slowed a bit by an injury of his own this year. However, at 80% the dude is still money. UNI basketball recruit Matt Morrison’s doesn’t hurt Solon’s chances. The QB has been running the show in these title games and his leadership will also factor into the final score.

3-A

Brandon Wegher is just good at being Brandon Wegher. I asked him what moment he will remember for them semifinal win against Clear Lake.. He paused was silent and mentioned, “I didn’t really have any long runs.” Hmmmm still he put up 253 yards and three touchdowns. Take time out to watch Wegher as he winds up a record setting career for the Crusaders.

4-A

Ryan Cawley? Yes the one two punch in the tiger backfield will make some noise but I think Cawley would put up some huge numbers on a team that featured him. Hey, I’m not saying Valley should, just saying this kid can make plays and this could be a time for him to shine come Friday night.

The Final 4 or 24.

Interesting if you have followed our rankings this season. All 24 of the teams in the Dome were in our first rankings top 10. The exceptions were Prairie Valley in 1-A and CWL (CORWITH) in 8-Man. I’m always curious to see how these teams will fare in such an Awesome situation. Teams like Keokuk, Humboldt, and Akron-Westfield just a few years back, were loaded with talent and won it all. Health is such an issue and Tradition carries a huge hammer when the teams are evenly matched in the dome. However, there are those special teams that break through. The three I listed above each had moments in the Semi-final game that helped solidify the team into a champion. If Prairie Valley and CWL win the semi they will each have to face a powerhouse program in the finals to win it all. If they do they will become a special team that no one in their community will ever forget.
In 4-A things maybe a little surprising. Aside from valley being number one all year, Ankeny has cranked up the juice to rebound with a whole new starting lineup from last years title game. I am a big coach Pezzetti fan, and I think this may be one of his best coaching jobs. Coach Swenson and Valley stepped up in a dangerous game with Dowling so they will be ready for the rematch of last years semi. On the other side, Bettendorf is not there. However, it shouldn’t be shocking to see CR-Wash and Cedar Falls. In our first rankings we had Wash 3rd. That because of an impressive win over the Tigers to start the year. Cedar Falls is an undervalued program and I think this one is a toss up.. Even with their loss to Wash we kept them in the top 10 to start the season.. If valley wins, it will bring about a finals rematch, with valley beating both schools in 2 of their 3 title runs.. In the end Ankeny is probably the biggest underdog here in 4-A

In 3-a We did well with 3 of our top 4 teams making the final 4. Pella was 8th for us to start the season but the Dutch seem to be a team with few holes. Heelan has been the front runner and it will be fun to see Wegher at full strength.

In 2-A Roland Story and IKM-Manning are going to do their best to stop a year 3 rematch with CLR and Solon. All 4 teams have strong tradition and you have to hand it to the staff of IKM-Manning to get the boys to the dome in the first year of the merger.

In 1-A three of the biggest names in Iowa High School Football take the Dome floor Saturday in class 1-A. West Lyon must be fantastic. A win over CBSA speaks for itself. No question Prairie Valley had an easier road to the dome. However, I believe that a road less traveled can be a blessing, if you have a championship team. We will learn a lot from that match up. On the other side of the bracket we have a war. EMMETSBURG vs. WEST BRANCH. We don’t have to go through all the stats here. We watched the E-hawks game with AP last Friday night and it was the most emotional game that I have ever worked in person. These E-hawks stood the test and have several big physical playmakers. West Branch will be prepared. Butch and the Bears staff will make sure of that as the door opens Saturday night. P-valley is the underdog, after that it will come down to survival for the 3 powerhouses..

Get to A and 8-man as time allows! See you at the Dome.

In 4-a we are who we thought they were.. VALLEY, DOWLING, ANKENY, CEDAR FALLS, BETTENDORF AND CR WASH. MOST Everyone else didn’t see Ames and Xavier. CRX 27-3 win against IC-High very impressive, and the little cyclones showed a ton of heart in their upset 4-OT win at SE-Polk. Now they have their first chance at the dome since Aaron Greving was in the backfield and they will be a huge underdog again hosting Ankeny Friday. Xavier is two years removed from a state title so the tradition of winning should not be a total shock. A win against Cedar Falls would be a huge tip of the hat.

In 3-A, the last Cinderella is Crestwood ,and Decorah is set two host another district foe coming off two straight two point wins. Harlan to Heelan for the much awaited rematch.. And the other 4 11-0 squads go at it in the Quarters when Pella hosts Mt. Pleasant and Carroll takes off to Clear Lake. Wow 3-A is stacked with great teams this season.

In 2-a the big 4 unbeaten host SOLON, CL-GLR, Roland Story, and IKM Manilla will be favored, and could set up a perfect field in the Dome for the Semi’s.

In 1-A the final 8 is Chalk. Boy do we have some historic match ups. Starting with AP heading to Emmetsburg. This one we saw coming but now that it is here it has to be the most exciting quarterfinal game in recent memory. Just think of everything the Falcons are playing for and they have to travel to one of, if not, the best home field advantages in Iowa High School History. CBSA and West Lyon WOW!.. West Branch and Maq Valley along with PC and Prairie Valley put district champions on a collision course for a trip to the dome.

In A we have another rematch as Madrid gets a chance at redemption against AHST. Southern Cal heads to the upset minded Alta. North Tama looks very strong and Host HLV. While East Buc will get an early dome trip to take on North Kent after an overtime thrilling win against defending state champ Wapsie Valley.

Rematches also set for 8-man will make the quarterfinal round fun.. But once again Stanton looks like an animal all its own… more thoughts later this week