Postseason Football
The 2024 state semifinals kicked off yesterday with the 8-Player matchups. The day began with Bishop Garrigan taking on Remsen St. Mary’s as the Golden Bears were eyeing for a chance to repeat. Tate Foertsch appeared poised to lead them back to the title game after scoring his second rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter to tie the game, followed by an Ethan Marso touchdown to take a 20 to 14 lead. Nevertheless, with 24 seconds remaining in the game Landon Waldschmitt connected with Brady Wurth for his third passing touchdown of the game and converted the two-point conversion to win 22-20.
In the second game of the day, Gladbrook-Reinbeck outscored Lenox 15 to 0 in the second quarter, helping the Rebels pull off the 43-27 upset. Gladbrook-Reinbeck’s Drew Eilers outdueled Gabe Funk, rushing for 146 yards and four touchdowns in the winning effort. The championship game will be played on Thursday, November 21st, at 9:30 am as the Hawks eye their fourth state championship, while the Rebels will be looking for their third title.
Madrid and West Hancock will start off the Class A semifinal matchups today at 10 am, followed by Tri-Center taking on Saint Ansgar at 1 pm. Class 4A will round out the day with Lewis Central competing against Pella at 4 pm and North Scott and North Polk playing at 7 pm.
Classes 1A and 5A will play tomorrow, November 15th, with Wilton and Grundy Center kicking off the day at 10 am, while Hinton and Dike-New Hartford will play at 1 pm. Valley will take on Dowling Catholic at 4 pm and Southeast Polk will look for a chance to repeat with a matchup against Iowa City Liberty at 7 pm.
On Saturday, Spirit Lake will face off against PCM at 10 am and Van Meter will take on West Lyon at 1 pm for Class 2A. Rounding out the day will be Class 3A with Wahlert Catholic competing against Sergeant Bluff-Luton at 4 pm and Mt. Vernon slated to play Humboldt at 7 pm.
Southeast Iowa Playbook
Last night was a new episode of the Southeast Iowa Playbook where we got to talk to Mt. Pleasant girls’ head basketball coach Curt Watson and boys’ head coach Eric Rawson for a preseason report.
For Coach Watson, his team was inexperienced a season ago but picked up a lot of playing time in the process, which has strengthened his team entering the new season,
“I’ve seen a lot of growth. I mean, the girls seem to be a lot more confident. I know Abby Carthy played for the Iowa Preps this year, and you can see a lot of improvement in her. Myah Starr and Kynlee White have all improved. Our three seniors have really worked hard at getting better. Plus, Peyton Ensminger has worked really hard and Keegan Coleman. We’re really excited about the growth they’ve made last year. You know, we took our lumps last year, but hopefully we learned from it, and I think we’re going to have a lot more experience this year. So hopefully we can compete night in and night out. So, we’ll hopefully have a good season.”
The boys’ basketball team will be depending on their underclassmen to lead this squad, an aspect that coach Rawson and his staff are ready to undertake.
“It’s a kind of trial by error. We’ll see, you know, starting on the 18th and we’ll approach it like we always do every year. Every year is different and just a matter of what they can pick up and absorb and put together. And you know, we’ll approach every day as a new day and come in and work really hard. I know this group just from looking at them and watching them, observing them in open gyms that they like to play together. They’re sharing the basketball. They want to play for Mount Pleasant and it’s not so much about the name on the back of the shirt for them it’s more about what’s on the front. So it’s a good group to have.”
Look out for new episodes on Wednesday nights at 6. If you missed last night’s episode, then follow this link: Mt. Pleasant Basketball Preseason Episode
High School Girls’ Basketball
Mt. Pleasant will host a scrimmage on Saturday, November 16th, with Central Lee and Davis County making the trip.
Southeastern Community College
The men’s basketball team continued their narrow winning ways, defeating Highland Community College last night 69-66. The Blackhawks will host Richard J. Daley College on Saturday night at 7.
College Football
Iowa State will face off against Cincinnati on Saturday, November 16th, at 7 pm at home. KILJ 98.5 FM and AM 1130 will be on the call.
Iowa is on a bye this week.
College Basketball
The #7 Iowa State men’s team will face off against IU Indianapolis on Monday, November 18th, at 7 pm at home.
The Iowa men’s team will compete in the John Deere Quad Cities Hoops Showdown tomorrow, November 15th, at 7:30 against Washington State.
The #8 Iowa State women’s team will compete against St. Thomas tonight at 6:30 pm at home.
The Iowa women’s team did not face any resistance last night in a 94-57 stomping of Toledo. Five Hawkeyes finished in double figures as Hannah Stuelke led the team with 15 points to accompany nine rebounds. Iowa will travel to take on Drake at 2 pm on Sunday, November 17th.
This Day in Sports History
1943 – Sid Luckman became the first passer in NFL history to eclipse the 400-yard plateau when he threw for 433 yards and 7 touchdowns in his team’s 56-7 rout of the New York Giants.
1993 – Don Shula became the winningest coach in NFL history when the Dolphins defeated the Philadelphia Eagles, 19-14, at the old Veteran Stadium. The victory was the 325th of Shula’s career.
2018 – New York Mets pitcher Jacob DeGrom wins the NL Cy Young Award; his 10 wins were the fewest ever by a Cy Young winner in a non-strike-shortened season.