WOODWARD — Woodward-Granger head coach George Ashman is not one to make excuses, but suspensions handed to several key players clearly played a role in a 27-14 home loss to Interstate-35 last season.
The loss came after a frustrating 34-33 setback in Truro in 2016, a game in which the Roadrunners benefited from several breaks and two or three key calls. And that came after an 8-2 loss to visiting I-35 in 2015.
With the Roadrunners entering Friday’s game at 4-0, the 3-1 Hawks would, with those past results in mind, no doubt find revenge especially sweet should they pull off a victory.
District play begins for all Iowa prep teams this week, with the showdown in Woodward one of three Class 1A D7 contests. In other district 7 action 3-1 Colfax-Mingo hosts 1-3 Pleasantville while the Woodward Academy (2-2) visits Pella Christian (2-2).
ABOUT THE HAWKS — W-G topped Madrid, 55-29, before ripping host Ogden, 46-7, to open their season. They overcame five turnovers to topple visiting South Hamilton, 11-8, in week three, but were handed a 41-0 shutout by host and defending state champion Van Meter last week.
Quarterback Keith Braunschweig is 25-46-6 for 492 yards and five touchdowns through the air while rushing 33 times for 281 yards and one score.
Bryce Achenbach has been is chief target, the junior having pulled in 19 aerials for 420 yards and three TDs. Pacey Moats has five snags for 50 yards, two of which have produced TDs.
Tate Lettow leads the ground attack with 461 yards on 73 rushes, with Gabe Yingst (44-217) and Cade Polich (28-159) also seeing plenty of duty. Yingst has six rushing TDs, Lettow two and Polich one.
The defense has come away with four interceptions and four fumble recoveries, with Yingst (36), Achenbach and Reese Jamison (both 28.5) and Lettow (24) the leading tacklers.
ABOUT THE ROADRUNNERS — Interstate-35 began their season with road wins at Central Decatur (26-12) and Mt. Ayr (28-13) before besting Panorama (34-13) and Saydel (49-6) in Truro.
Quarterback Joey Bregar has thrown for seven scores and 404 yards on 38-of-63 attempts while being intercepted five times.
Richie Griglione (20-211, 4 TDs) and Tanner Daniels (12-126, 2 TDs) are the main weapons.
Mason Casady has carried 67 times for 541 yards and six scores, with Jack Smith rushing 34 times for 204 yards and two scores. Casady had 131 rushing yards and two TDs and 24 receiving yards and a score in I-35’s win in Woodward last season.
Seven different players have interceptions for the defense, with Casady having two. The team has fallen on four fumbles from their opposition.
