VAN METER — Class 1A powerhouse Van Meter was rated only fourth-best in the first Class 1A RPI ratings last week. The Bulldogs quickly showed how numbers on paper mean one thing, and play on the gridiron another, as they dismantled the top-team in the RPI, Woodward-Granger, 41-0, in their week four meeting.
The win pushed Van Meter’s win streak to 17 games. The Bulldogs have not lost in the regular season since a week one setback to Madrid in 2015, a loss they avenged later that season in the playoffs.
Kasey O’Brien started the scoring by picking off a Keith Braunschweig pass and racing 29 yards for a touchdown. Sam Bardwell’s PAT made it 7-0 early in the opening quarter.
Van Meter added an 11-yard TD pass from Anthony Potthoff to J.J. Richards and an 18-yard Potthoff scoring spurt on their next two possessions to open a 21-0 lead after 12 minutes of action.
Potthoff scored on an 11-yard run and then hit Chris Reames for a 22-yard scoring connection as the score moved to 34-0 at the half. Neither team scored in the third period, with Antonio Angel bursting into the end zone from 19 yards out in the fourth quarter to create the final margin.
Braunschweig was 3-for-8 with two interceptions for W-G. He found Bryce Achenbach for all three completions, totaling 43 yards.
Tate Lettow ran 19 times for 138 yards to lead the Hawk ground game. Braunschweig (4-38), Gabe Yingst (8-37), Cade Polich (9-31) and Achenbach (1-2) also had carries for the guests.
Yingst had a sack while tallying 13.5 tackles, with Achenbach making eight stops and Reese Jamison and Jackson Newland 6.5 apiece. Achenbach also had an interception, returning the theft four yards.
Potthoff was 7-19-1 for 105 yards and two scores while passing the pigskin for the hosts. Richards (2-49, 1 TD) and Reames (1-22, 1 TD) did the most damage as receivers.
The quarterback had 114 yards and two scores on 12 carries as the top Bulldog rusher, with Ian Abrahamson (16-83) and Angel (7-46, 1 TD) helping the home team run for 270 yards on 42 attempts.
O’Brien (1-29, 1 TD) and Spencer Lamb (1-38) had interceptions for the Bulldogs, with Parker Fryar and Zach Madden each recovering a fumble. Fryar led the defense with 13 tackles.
W-G (3-1) opens District 7 play at home Friday when Interstate-35 (4-0) visits. The Roadrunners blasted Saydel, 49-6, in week four action.
