Preview for High School Football
Mt. Pleasant will be in a new classification this year as the Panthers will now be competing in Class 3A. Under new direction this season in Head Coach John Bowlin, the Panthers will start the season on August 25th against Fairfield at Mapleleaf.
After being dormant for six years, football is coming back to Danville with Cody Thompson at the helm. The Bears will take on Lynnville-Sully to start the season.
Van Buren County will take on Central Lee to begin the season for Class A.
In 8-man football, WACO’s week one matchup will be Fremont-Mills on the road. New London, with Darrin Loyd leading the Tigers, will travel to take on Easton Valley. Lastly, Winfield-Mt. Union will begin their hopeful season at Central City to start the year.
Mt. Pleasant Cross Country
On Mondays and Wednesdays, runs will begin at the Old Threshers Museum Theatre at 6:30 am.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays, runs will start at 7 pm at Saunders Park by the swimming pool.
The runs will continue throughout the summer until the middle of August. If you have any questions, reach out to Coach Murray at 319-850-0867.
College Football Award Watches
Iowa and Iowa State both have a player in the 2023 Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list. The award goes to the best defensive player in college football.
For the Hawkeyes, Cooper DeJean, a junior defensive back, is the name to watch out for in the secondary after receiving a first-team All-Big Ten selection from the media and a second-team nomination from the coaches for his play last year. He finished with 75 tackles and five interceptions, including three pick-sixes, a single season record for Iowa.
The Cyclones tout their own talented defensive back in senior T.J. Tampa. After earning All-Big 12 Second Team honors last season, there are high expectations for the senior. He collected 40 tackles last season, which included five for a loss, and snatched his first career interception.
Iowa State’s senior offensive lineman Jarrod Hufford is also receiving some praise after being put on the Outland Trophy watch list, the award for the top interior lineman on offense or defense. He helped the Cyclones gain 1,625 yards on the ground last season.
Lastly, Cade McNamara is on the Maxwell Award watch list for Iowa as the award goes to the most outstanding player in college football. McNamara transferred from Michigan after tossing for 2,576 yards and 15 touchdowns for the Wolverines last season.
Iowa State Football
The Cyclones have a different quarterback controversy brewing this offseason after Hunter Dekkers, last year’s starter and this year’s expected starter, was accused of betting on 26 Iowa State sporting events including a Big 12 football game back in 2021 that he did not participate in.
The affidavit stated that Dekkers was under 21, the legal betting age in Iowa, but skirted around the issue with the help of his parents on DraftKings.
Dekkers’ attorney released a statement saying the quarterback will be stepping away from the team and plead not guilty to the charge. This stems from the investigation launched in May after school officials for Iowa State and the University of Iowa suspected a total of 41 student-athletes violated gambling rules.
Prospect League
The Clinton LumberKings have now won three straight after exploding for 7 runs in the 6th inning to win 12-5 against the Normal CornBelters. Jeremy Conforti had a 3-RBI double in the inning as he led the team with 4 RBIs on the night. Brandon Vicko capped off the night with a 3-run moonshot as Drew Dykstra picked up the win on the mound.
The LumberKings and Burlington Bees begin a three game series tonight with Clinton playing host for tonight’s contest.
This Day in Sports History
1921 – After 3 hours of deliberation a Chicago jury acquits 8 Chicago White Sox accused in the Black Sox scandal; the next day they are banned from organized baseball for life.
1968 – Ron Hansen (Washington Senators) and Tim Cullen (Chicago White Sox) become the first MLB players to be traded for each other twice in the same season; they had been traded in February in opposite directions.
1982 – Oakland outfielder Rickey Henderson steals his 100th MLB base of the season in 6-5 win vs Seattle, first to steal 100 bases twice in modern era.