LAST MEETING — Since-graduated DMC quarterback Nathan Herbers put up 52 passes, connecting on 19 for 265 yards and three scores, but three interceptions proved costly as W-G posted a 27-21 win. W-G quarterback Brendan Bird threw for 110 yards and a score and had two short rushing touchdowns to help produce the win.
ABOUT THE HAWKS — W-G will again be without four starters as they serve the second of their two-game suspensions. Their absence was felt in a 27-14 loss to visiting I-35 last week, but with enough time to adjust to the changes the Hawks should be in better shape this week.
Bryce Achenbach will start at QB. He was 4-16-1 for 69 yards and a TD last week. Josh Saak is the leading available receiver, having caught four passes for 87 yards and two scores.
Payton Tague (68-359, 5 TDs), Austin Scharlau (49-247, 3 TDs) and Saak (34-194, 4 TDs) lead the ground attack.
Scharlau’s 37 tackles leads the defense, with Cole Carman having made 33.5 stops, Achenbach 33 and Gabe Yingst 28.5 The unit has picked off four passes and fallen on six fumbles.
Punter Reese Jamison has quietly been quite effective, averaging 41.1 yards on 19 punts, which is tied for the third-best average among all classes for those with at least 10 attempts.
ABOUT THE LIONS — DMC lit up the stat books with a Class 1A-best 2,542 passing yards and 26 scores last year but has only 359 aerial yards so far this year. The Lions have been outscored, 240-27, suffering D5 losses to No. 2 Pella Christian (62-7) and No. 5 Pleasantville (66-8) as well as Central Decatur (48-0).
Jeff Herbers is 33-106-5 for 277 yards and one TD passing, with Jason Withers 8-9-1 for 82 yards. Justin Groen has a six-yard TD catch and 105 yards on 12 receptions, with Nolan Shay (6-30) and Cade Thiner (4-51) also main receivers.
DMC has 204 yards less than North Cedar and for the dubious distinction of worst rushing offense in 1A. The team has 121 carries for 79 yards (loss due to sacks is deduced from rushing yards). Herbers leads the team with 54 yards on 53 runs, with Withers carrying 3 times for nine yards and a six-yard TD.
The other 12 points recorded by the Lions have come from the foot of Ben Webster, who has hit 1-of-1 PATs but 4-of-5 field goals, including a long of 50 yards.
Shay has 22 tackles and Danny Mabe 20 to lead the defense, which has recovered nine fumbles and come away with two interceptions.
OUTLOOK — Even without four key starters W-G should dominate. The Lions have struggled to stop the run, and although two starters up front will miss the game, the Hawks will doubtless try and set a tone early. DMC would love nothing more than to pull an upset at W-G’s expense, so the Hawks had best not be sleep-walking.
DISTRICT 5
| District | Overall | Point Diff Avg |
|||||
| Win | Loss | Tie | Win | Loss | Tie | ||
| Pella Christian | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 17.00 |
| Pleasantville | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 17.00 |
| Woodward-Granger | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 6.67 |
| Central Decatur | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 4.00 |
| Mount Ayr | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | -4.33 |
| Interstate 35 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | -6.67 |
| Woodward Academy | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | -16.67 |
| Des Moines Christian | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | -17.00 |
Friday’s Games
Woodward-Granger at Des Moines Christian
Central Decatur at Interstate 35
No. 2 Pella Christian at Woodward Academy
No. 5 Pleasantville at Mount Ayr
Oct. 6 Games
Mount Ayr at Woodward-Granger
Interstate 35 at Des Moines Christian
No. 2 Pella Christian at No. 5 Pleasantville
Woodward Academy at Central Decatur
