Prep Football: WACO Rides Defense, Ground Game to Dominant Win:
WACO used four interceptions and seven rushing scores rolling to a 50-8 win over Martensdale-St. Mary’s in the second round of the 8-Player playoffs last night.
The win sets the fifth-ranked Warriors up for a date with No. 6 Audubon, who defeated top-ranked Montezuma last night.
Junior running back Simeon Reichenbach got the party started for WACO with a pair of first quarter rushing scores.
Isaac Oswald added two of his own, while fullback Jon Rice scored three times — including two in the salt in the wound third quarter.
Leading 29-8 at halftime WACO jumped the Blue Devils in the third for scores on three consecutive drives set up by two Martensdale-St. Mary’s turnovers on downs.
Mason Miller set the Warriors up for two short field drives in the first half with two interceptions, while Drew Diers and Clayton Miller each had one.
Martensdale’s lone score, a 40-yard run by sophomore Kade Mullins, came at the 5:00 mark of the first quarter.
The rest of his six carries went for 15 yards.
The game was played with running clock from the third quarter on.
WACO’s next matchup will be Thursday, November 4th.
The KILJ family of networks — either 105.5 or 98.5 — will have coverage of that matchup with Audubon.
Prep Cross Country: Danville-New London Takes Second at State:
Ty Carr ran 16:34.96 for fifth place overall as the Danville-New London Bears took second in the Class 2A Boys Cross Country meet in Fort Dodge on Saturday.
Last year’s state champions, Danville-New London was bested only by Tipton.
Alexander Julian ran 17:03.59 for 15th overall while Rylan Martin finished 29th.
Seth Bailey finished in 17:43.57 placing 48th overall.
Western Christian, Oelwein and Des Moines Christian rounded out the top-five team scores.
In Class 1A, Winfield-Mount Union’s Gabe Hemsworth finished in 18:54.04.
That was 105th in the Class 1A field.
College Football: Wesleyan Nabs First North Star Win:
Iowa Wesleyan quarterback Gavin Esquivel threw for 306 yards and one touchdown as the Tigers earned their first North Star conference win, 21-10 over Presentation College.
Freshman running back Hezekiah Hunter ran for 145 and two touchdowns while his backfield mate Kam Cole ran for 82 yards.
Damien Tanelus was Esquivel’s top target hauling in five catches for 73 yards.
David Timmons had the lone touchdown reception — his from 30 yards out.
The win moves Wesleyan to 2-7.
The Tigers will play in their final home game next week, Saturday, November 6th, against Waldorf University in Burlington, Iowa at Bracewell Stadium.
It will be Senior Day for the Tigers.
Kick is set start for 2:00 p.m.
Prep Volleyball: State Volleyball Gets Underway Today:
The 2021 Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union State Volleyball tournament gets underway today with action all day at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse.
The slate gets underway in Class 5A where:
No. 1 Iowa City Liberty vs. No. 8 Johnston
No. 4 Cedar Falls vs. No. 5 Dowling Catholic
No. 2 Pleasant Valley vs. No. 7 Ankeny Centennial
No. 3 Ankeny vs. No. 6 Urbandale
4A will also play their quarterfinal matchups this evening.
The bracket is as follows:
No. 1 Western Dubuque vs. No. 8 Bishop Heelan
No. 4 Xavier vs. No. 5 Marion
No. 2 North Scott vs. No. 7 Bondurant-Farrar
No. 3 Waverly-Shell Rock vs. No. 6 Oskaloosa