WOODWARD, IA — Emotions were, as expected, running high Friday when Madrid visited Woodward-Granger for the annual renewal of their intense rivalry.
At stake this year — and moving forward — was possession of the a new traveling prize for the game, the “Battle For the Bridge” trophy. Courtesy of Dalton Construction of Madrid, the trophy was presented as up for grabs by Iowa Lt. Governor Adam Gregg.
A 20-8 triumph by the hosts extended the W-G winning streak in the series to six games. The current Hawk seniors had won, 50-0, as freshmen and 49-6 as sophomores before posting a 33-0 win as juniors.
The hosts were first on the scoreboard, with Carter Moran hitting Max Dalton for a 21-yard scoring strike and a 6-0 lead.
The halftime margin stood at 12-0 thanks to a 16-yard touchdown run by Dylan McCaulley.
Madrid quarterback Preston Wicker put the Tigers on the board with a one-yard dive in the third quarter. A two-point conversion cut the deficit to 12-8.
Moran raced across the goal line from 10 yards out in the fourth quarter to lift the Hawk lead to 18-8, with Moran flipping a two-point pass to Brody Nardini to cap the scoring.
A wild celebration followed the final horn, with players exuberantly lifting the trophy, with the W-G student body charging onto the field moments later to join in the excitement. An enormous volume of photos followed, with the team, groups of players, players and friends, family and others all eager to pose with the trophy that will now reside in the Hawk trophy case until the series is resumed next season.
Wicker was 5-16-2 for 84 yards passing for the Tigers, with Jacob Kockler (3-70) leading the receivers.
The Madrid ground attack was led by Wicker (17-68, 1 TD), with Nash Ramirez adding 58 yards on 16 carries.
Moran was 12-19-1 for 158 yards and a TD through the air. Dane Polich (3-80), Nardini (6-38), Dalton (2-32, 1 TD) and Ethan Moats (1-8) all caught passes for the hosts.
McCaulley hauled the pigskin 17 times for 150 yards and a TD, with Moran gaining 75 yards on 13 runs while Nardini added a yard on four totes and Dalton lost a yard on two rushes.
Oliver Potter was credited with 11.5 tackles to lead the Hawk defense. Kolby Fogarty had 5.5 tackles and Polich five, with Dalton and Moran both making interceptions to help limit the Tiger offense.
Madrid hosts Belle Plaine Friday, with W-G traveling to AC/GC.
