LAST MEETING — The teams are not believed to have met in the last 10 years. The game is critical for Woodward-Granger’s playoff chances, as a win Friday and Oct. 14 against Pleasantville would assure the Hawks of a postseason spot.
ABOUT THE HAWKS — Woodward-Granger and Mt. Ayr have two common opponents through six games this season. Both teams defeated Woodward Academy, with the Hawks winning, 56-0, and the Raiders posting a 34-7 win, but Woodward-Granger topped Central Decatur, 43-13, a team which defeated Mt. Ayr, 29-13.
W-G has rushed for 1,522 yards and 19 touchdowns on 252 carries, while passing for 516 yards and six scores.
Quarterback Brendan Bird is 26-62-5 for six scores and 482 yards. John Stucker (8-197, 2 TDs), J.P. Nixon (5-91, 2 TDs), Josh Saak (6-58, 1 TD) and Logan Canova (3-78, 1 TD) have accounted for most of the receptions and yardage.
The running game is all about senior tailback Tanner Vermaas, who has 16 TDs and 1,050 yards on 147 carries. Austin Scharlau (35-172) and Payton Tague (26-135) have also been involved, as has Bird (25-104, 3 TDs).
Devan Kirkman (31), Vermaas (30) and Scharlau (27) are the leading tacklers for a defense that has recovered eight fumbles and made five interceptions.
ABOUT THE RAIDERS — The Raiders have rushed 263 times for 1,128 yards and 14 TDs and passed for 270 yards and four TDs.
“By committee” would be the way to best describe Mt. Ayr’s approach, as 18 different players have carried the ball and 12 players have made receptions from two different quarterbacks.
Marcus Daughton is 16-3-1 for 144 yards and a score while Tristan Holmes is 7-23-3 for 73 yards and two TDs. Devin Russo (6-44) is the lead receiver; the Raiders have yet to record a passing play covering more than 30 yards.
Brad Phelps (42-313, 3 TDs), Cal Daughton (20-196, 3 TDs) and John Young (41-170, 2 TDs) lead the ground game.
Zach Murphy’s 40.5 tackles tops a defensive unit that has picked off three passes and fallen on seven fumbles from the opposition.
DISTRICT 5
| District | Overall | Point Diff Avg |
|||||
| Win | Loss | Tie | Win | Loss | Tie | ||
| Pella Christian | 4 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 17.00 |
| Pleasantville | 4 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 17.00 |
| Woodward-Granger | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9.75 |
| Central Decatur | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 3.25 |
| Mount Ayr | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | -8.25 |
| Des Moines Christian | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | -9.25 |
| Interstate-35 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | -12.50 |
| Woodward Academy | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | -17.00 |
Friday’s Games
Central Decatur at Woodward Academy
Des Moines Christian at Interstate-35
Pleasantville at Pella Christian
Woodward-Granger at Mount Ayr
Friday, Oct. 14
Mount Ayr at Des Moines Christian
Pella Christian at Central Decatur
Pleasantville at Woodward-Granger
Woodward Academy at Interstate-35
